The winter months had set in and the castle was colder than ever. Nami made sure to bundle up, especially when traveling through the drafty, great halls. She had been sitting comfortably by the fire of the library as he husband and the king discussed business matters. She felt her head getting heavy but didn't want to leave Zoro. She didn't want him to think that she wasn't supportive or interested during his many meetings.
Nami covered her mouth, yawning softly. She rubbed her eyes.
Zoro kept glancing back at his wife as he spoke with his father. It was habit. Most of the time he was concerned for her, other times he just enjoyed seeing her beautiful face. This was the third yawn he caught as he stopped mid sentence and turned to her.
"You tired, Love?" he asked softly, pressing his lips against her cheek as he examined her body, seeing the way she moved.
"Ah.." Nami had been caught. "I..." The king raised an eyebrow at her and she couldn't argue. "Just a bit." She looked back at Zoro, grinning slightly. "But I don't mind waiting a little longer."
Zoro took her hand in his and gave it a soft kiss. "You can go to bed, my love.. I know you need more rest than I do.." he smiled. "I'll be there soon.."
Nami sighed then hummed in agreement. He was right. She needed to rest. After all, in only a week or two she would be getting very little rest with a new baby to care for. She nuzzled her head against his, kissing his cheek while squeezing his hand gently. She sat forward and pushed herself out of the chair, struggling with her swollen belly.
Zoro stood to his feet and helped her up, leaning in to kiss her once more. "Want me to send someone to help you?" he ran his palm over her stomach, as he always did.
She grinned, touching his hand lovingly as he pressed against her stomach. "I can manage." Although she was sure he would send someone with her anyways.
Zoro nodded and kissed her once more. "I'll be there in less than a half hour.. Don't wait up for me.. get some rest.." he smiled and kissed her once more, snapping at a maid in the room to assist her.
She kissed him back and smiled contently. Of course, there was an assistant to bring her to her room. With a final kiss and giving her best effort to bow to the king, she was ushered out the door and into the cold halls
Nami kept a slow pace, holding her stomach as she seemed to waddle back to her room. She could see the servant smirk as she walked, noticing the way Nami was moving. "It won't be long now." She spoke to Nami.
As they reached her chambers Nami excused the servant, whom was more than happy to get back to the warmth of the library. Nami opened the large door to her room as a chill shot up her spine. She had a sudden uneasy feeling as she closed the door behind her and entered her room...
Zoro listened to his father go on and on about the duties he needed to preform after his son was born. Presentations and parties, it was dragging on and Zoro was more tired than he had imagined. He asked his father if they could continue this tomorrow and Mihawk, for once, obliged.
He bid him goodnight and headed down the hallway. It was fairly late and most of the servants in the castle had already retired to their rooms for the night.
Zoro gave a small yawn as he approached his room, reaching down he pulled the door open. Something struck him as he did. A familiar and uneasy feeling.. He panicked and ran into the room.
The fire in the hearth was out, not a hint of light. The room was cold and an uneasy feeling seeped through the air. As the prince entered the room, the door shut quickly on its own behind him. There wasn't even a moment for him to process what had happened when an all too familiar and terrifying voice began to chuckle.
"My my... It's been a while, hasn't it?"
In that instance the fireplace reignited and cast an eerie glow over the room. There, standing in front of the prince was the man he had feared for so long. The one who had taken his mothers life and attempted to take his as well.
But what was the most frightening thing about this scene was that in his arm was a seemingly unconscious Nami, leaned against the very shoulder of Arlong. Zoro jolted when the door suddenly shut on its own and felt his blood run cold at the sound of the familiar voice. This wasn't happening. How did he get in here?!
His body flinched when light filled the room. His eyes first darted at the bed in search of his wife before he turned to see her in the arms of the man he hated most. His eye was at the top of the list of things this man had stolen from him.
"Arlong!" he growled, reaching for the hilt of his blade and drawing it out. "Give her back to me!"
Arlong only grinned at the Prince. "Ah.. Are you sure that is such a wise decision?" The man lifted his free hand and placed it on the top of Nami's head, petting her as if she were a pet. "I would hate for something... tragic to happen."
"You bastard.." he hissed, lowering his weapon. "What the fuck do you want!?"
"The same thing I came for the last time... Your crown." The man smirked as he narrowed his eyes at the Prince.
"You'll not get that or my wife" he glared, trying to figure out how to get Nami away from him. "You coward.."
"Maybe we should make this... a little more interesting then?" Arlong's hand passed in front of Nami's face, moving over her eyes. In seconds Nami was conscious again, her eyes blinking as she tried to remember where she was. "Z-zoro.." She stared back at him, his face twisted with anger.
At that moment she realized where she was and the status she was in. she gasped as she turned her head to see her 'father.' "A-Arlong!" Her body tried to fight him but she couldn't move. Her legs and arms were paralyzed.
"Shahahahaha!" Arlong let out a loud laugh as she panicked. "Now now... Why don't you convince your husband to surrender his position?"
Nami glared and without hesitation yelled back. "Never!"
"Give me my wife back!" Zoro growled.
Their words only seemed to fuel him more as he continued to laugh. "You really want this traitor back?"
Zoro froze at his words, eyes widening before forming into a glare. "I-I don't care who she was raised by! I love her!" he fumed, taking a step closer.
Arlong looked back at the woman in his arm. "So you never told him?" His grin only grew. "This is better than I expected..." Nami stared at him with fear, glancing back at Zoro.
Zoro's eyes narrowed again, this time in confusion. "I-I know! She told me!" his voice cracked as he tried to defend her.
"p-please..." she spoke under her breath, begging for Arlong to keep quiet.
"It seems she is a better actress than I ever could have imagined! Shahahaha!" Arlong turned to the Princess. "Would you like to come clean? Or would you rather he hear it from me?" Nami bit her lip, staring down at the floor. "Not feeling like sharing?... I don't mind..."
Zoro's eyes looked from one to the other as he lowered his sword. "W-What's he talking about Nami?" he looked over to his wife, confusion clear in his voice.
Arlong's eyes focused on the Prince once more. "It seems she is too cowardly to speak up!"
"Shut up!" Zoro glared, pulling his sword back up.
Nami clenched her teeth. "I-It... It doesn't matter now... I love you..." She looked at Zoro.
"Shahaha! It doesn't matter?! You have been lying to him from the start!"
Zoro felt his heart beat pound against his chest. He still didn't understand what they were saying. "W-What is he talking about?! Nami?!"
She stared back at him and only repeated herself. "...I love you..."
"Go on! It seems you have found your tongue! Tell him how you betrayed him! Tell him about the plan!"
"Zoro! I love you!" She shouted, her eyes filling with tears.
Zoro swallowed, keeping his eyes locked with Nami's. "W-What plan..?"
"Ah.. what plan indeed..." Arlong touched Nami's hair again. "I'll let you in on a little secret..."
Zoro turned his gaze up at the monster holding his wife.
"Your Princess is a thief... and a liar." He smirked as Nami sunk her head in shame. "Did you ever wonder why she came to that ball? The night you two met?... She came to steal. She was to steal the treasure but seemed to steal something much more valuable in the process... The heart and the trust of the Prince."
"s-stop... " Nami begged
Zoro's eye widened as he listened to Arlong speak.
"The idea of having an entire kingdom outweighed the promise of gold. My little Nami here, agreed to go along with the plans..."
Zoro turned to Nami. "No.." he whispered.
"I-i had no choice..." She spoke softly, completely defeated.
"Shahaha! She was to marry you and when you least expected it, we were to take over the kingdom... right out from under your noses!...but then this..." He placed his hand on her stomach and she shuttered."This little... bundle of joy..."
"Stop it!" Zoro hissed.
Nami shut her eyes tightly, letting the tears fall as she clenched her teeth.
"Touch him again and I'll fucking kill you!" he glared, pulling his blade up as if ready to attack.
"Well... we just needed to change the plans. Nami would do anything for her father... isn't that right? Even giving him her first born, and the new heir to the thrown..."
"N-no... never..." Nami cried as he spoke. "I... I didn't know I would fall in love. I love him!" She looked back at Zoro. "I love you Zoro!"
Zoro clenched the blade in his hand. "You.. didn't know?" he whispered. He felt like he had been stabbed through the chest. She planned this.. She would have gone through with this if she hadn't fallen in love with him.. She would have had his son and never loved him. He was just a miscalculation on a plan.
"Even she admits it! Shahaha!" Arlong was beaming.
"...zoro... please..."
"Nami.." he took a step back, pain obvious in his voice.
"I forgave you for lying to me.. But this.."
"Oh my... My poor little Nami... Even he is going to leave you. You were meant to be alone... I am the only one you can turn to." He smirked. "Well, well... It seems like the cat's out of the bag now... Tell me prince... Do you still love this traitor?" Arlong forced her to stand on her feet, grabbing her arm and shaking her roughly. "Is she worth anything to you now? What will you do? Will you surrender her to me? I would be glad to raise the future king..."
Zoro's eye glazed over in anger as he all but snarled at the man. "I'll fucking kill you if you mishandle her again.." he gripped the blade tightly as his gaze burned into Along. He was angry and he certainly felt betrayed, but he still loved her. This was his family and he was sick and tired of this man trying to take the happiness in his life."You're not raising /my/ son!" he spat.
Arlong frowned. "If you want it done the hard way... so be it..." At that moment he placed his hand over her face again and released her arm. She fell to the floor, unable to move. "You have one week until she gives birth." A thick fog began to surround him quickly as he spoke. "If you do not retire the crown to me by then, both she and your son will die...You have one week! I will return..." All that could be seen was a thick smoke that encircled him
Zoro would have charged after him, but he was more concerned with his wife. He dropped the blade and fell to his knees before her. "Nami!? Nami!" he yelled, pulling her into his chest and touching her stomach.
She felt so weak, physically strained. "I... I love you.. so much..." Within seconds the smoke had cleared and the room was empty except for the Prince, Princess and their unborn child. Nami grabbed her stomach, feeling pain as she winced. "A-ah!" She curled up, clenching her stomach tightly.
Zoro didn't waste any time. He scooped up his wife and ran for the door, heading to the infirmary. If anything happened to their child or his wife he would hunt that man down and slaughter him.
All of her fears were growing. The man she had come to love, now knew her secret. She never should have hid it... "Z-zoro. I'm sorry... I'm so sorry I lied.." She cried out on pain and sadness as she held her belly.
Zoro didn't respond to her. He couldn't respond to her. He wanted to tell her it was ok, but she lied to him. She betrayed him.. and now their sons life was possibly in danger. He kicked open the infirmary doors and cried out for help. The physicians were woken immediately as was her midwife. The entire room was soon filled with people, each rushing to try and diagnose while treating her for any symptoms. One of the staff directed the Prince to step outside while they worked. It took a few people to push him out of the room. He didn't want to leave. He was filled with panic and rage and.. he was frightened.. of losing his family.
It was over an hour before the head physician had returned to the Prince. He was frowning as he approached. Zoro was a terrified mess. "It seems, Princess Nami is under a spell. It is a powerful magic that we cannot reverse..." The doctor sighed softly. "H-her body has become weak... and the child...The child is still alive but it seems the spell has affected the baby as well. I'm... I'm so sorry... At this rate... there is nothing we can do."
Zoro kept his gaze up as he listened to the doctor speak. As he went on, Zoro lowered his head, buried his face in his hands, and wept. The physician stood in front of him for a moment. "I suggest... you spend your time with her...We will do our best to make her comfortable." With that, he excused himself, not wanting to see such a personal moment of the once strong Prince.
Zoro struggled to pick himself up as he walked back into the infirmary. He wanted to see his wife. He wanted to be with her and tell her he loved her.. and needed her. Her eyes were shut when he entered the room. She was laying in a bed, blankets piled over her, her belly creating a rounded bump under the sheets. Her breathing was steady but her skin had become pale. She no longer had her pink lips and her rose-colored cheeks.
"N-Nami.." he sunk to his knees at her side, touching her face with a shaky hand before burying his against her shoulder.
She stirred at his voice, peeking her eyes open. "...zoro?" Nami felt his warmth against her as she turned towards him. She gave a weak smile. "Please... don't be so sad.."
Zoro lifted his head, hearing her speak. He choked back a sob as he touched her face with both hands and leaned in to kiss her forehead. "N-Nami.." he cried.
"Zoro..." She lifted her hand and cupped his cheek softly. "P-please forgive me..." She whispered. "I never expected things to turn out like this... I... I deserve this."
"N-Nami.. H-How.. How do I fix it?" he begged her, tears still streaming down his face. "T-The doctor said.." another sob tore through him at the though of their son being affected. One more week.. and they would have held him in their arms.
She shook her head. "I cannot ask you to give up the crown..." She closed her eyes as she leaned against him.
"Just.. stay with me.. at least for our son... your son..."
Zoro felt his chest tighten. Thats what this was all about. The crown. His fucking birth right was taking his family away from him. Zoro reached his hand over to touch Nami's stomach.
He nuzzled against her, taking deep breaths to stop crying. "I love you.." he whispered.
She felt her heart ache. Was it really so simple? Could he really forgive her that easily? She sniffled as she felt him touch her stomach. "I... I love you too... so much" She managed to say through her sudden tears.
Zoro leaned in to kiss her, not moving his hand for a second.
She felt his familiar lips brush against hers as she pressed against him. She could feel his tears as they fell onto her face, joining her own as she wept softly with him. Her hand moved to her stomach, placing it over his.
Zoro was angry. He was up a majority of the night, unable to rest as he watched over his wife and unborn son. The images of his wife in pain burned in his mind. The idea of her crying and his son in any kind of pain fueled him for his journey.
The man said one week.. One week and he would find him and 'take' what was 'his'. Zoro wasn't waiting seven days to make this right.
Based on what Nami told him, he found the fortress with ease, completely ripping off and destroying the front with only two of the three swords in his possession. The fishmen that tried to attack him all met the same demise before the realized the pattern.. and instead parted, making a clear path for him straight to their leader.
When the bastard that came in and ripped apart his happy home came into view, Zoro pulled the white sword out of his mouth. "ARLONG!" he screamed from the other side of the chamber, rage clear in his voice.
"Shahahaha! I see the Prince has a temper... and is very impatient..." Arlong stood from his chair and took a step towards the Prince. "Tell me... did you come here to surrender? Or did you want me to kill Nami now..."
Zoro marched right up to him, grabbed him by his shirt, and jerked him down to his level. His eye resembled his fathers, from battles long ago as he pulled his blade up to the man's throat. "If you touch my wife.. I'll kill you.." he hissed. Zoro knew he couldn't take the man's life now.. not with the curse on Nami and his unborn child.
Arlong smirked. "No need to be so forceful... you know what I want... Give me the crown..."
"I want my family back!" he demanded. "I want to be able to hold my healthy son in my arms and have /my/ healthy wife at my side!"
"I will keep my promise... as long as I receive that crown." Her growled back, beginning to lose his patience.
Zoro let go of the material of his garment, pushing him off with a shove. "You better keep your promise.." he glared.
"You have one week to enjoy your power!" Arlong spat at him as he picked himself of the floor.
"Are you taking the spell off?!" he glared, before turning to leave.
"...It has already been done." The man crossed his arms as he glared at the Prince. "Shahaha... Enjoy it while you can..."
"If I give you my crown.. You're not allowed to harm my family!" he spat. "Nami isn't yours anymore! And my son was NEVER an option!"
"...so be it..." He simply smirked. The crown was only a week away.
With that, Zoro stormed out of the fortress. He wanted to be back with his family..
Zoro returned to the castle, body sore from fighting. He hadn't told anyone where he was going or how long he would be gone. He debated telling his father what he had done to give him some kind of warning. Zoro wasn't sure what to do.. He just wanted to see Nami and make sure she was ok..
He made it back to the infirmary within an hours time. There were small cuts and scrapes on his face and clothes, but nothing too obvious revealing the fight he had been in. He walked into the room quietly and sat beside her, looking over her body and wondering if she was ok..
Nami shifted in her bed, feeling the presence of someone in the room. Her eyes opened and adjusted to the dim light. "Zoro?" She called out to him, wanting to know if he was there or if she was only imagining it.
Zoro sat up and hovered over her body, examining her condition. "Nami?" he called out softly, stroking her cheek with his palm.
She reached her hand up to his, holding his palm. "Zoro..." She kissed his hand lovingly.
"Zoro... I... I feel better. I don't understand..."
A little breath left him before he smiled and cupped her face with both hands. "N-Nami.." he smiled, before lowering his head to kiss her forehead.
Nami reached for him, pulling him into a hug as best she could. "Zoro... What happened?"
"I-I don't know.." he lied, looking away from her.