A/N - Another super long chapter? Okay. :D Also, some people have been PMing me and asking how I get so much views on my stories and things like that because I have been doing this for almost six years now. Well, any amature story poster would just think that it gets views when its good (which is sort of true) but if you know anything about statistics and graphing and traffic monitoring (which you will hopefully learn when you go to college, like moi), it matters A LOT as to what time of day you post it, what day it is, and key words in the summary and title. I have to say, the best time to post a story would be about 4:00-6:30 on a Sunday. But unfortunately, I don't really care and I post anytime or else I will forget and then you guys will get mad at me and I will be like BUT I FORGOT NOOOO! Anyway, don't forget to review. :D

Outside of Targoviste, Wallachia, Spring 1457

The day's went by slowly. Vlad did not return to our bedchamber for nearly nine days after that incident. Not that I had much time to complain. I could tell Vlad's reign was beginning and he would be more victorious than the many princes of the past. The entire castle was fortified with a huge amount of new books, new people, golden eating ware, new tapestries, and blankets. Not to mention soldiers and battle weapons.

I was assigned a dozen new ladies in waiting. They made my bed, kept me company, mended my clothes, saw to Mihnea, helped me sleep, and helped me bathe among other things. Vlad sent me a tutor, as If I needed to learn anymore. He taught me about arithmatic, astrology, and mythology (Of which I already comprehended). We had classes in the forests on a good and clear day with plenty of sun. My ladies in waiting had to follow me everywhere, as did a personal guard of about six or seven soldiers at all times until I begged Vlad to lower it down to three.

I was learning courtly behavior, as I accompanied my ladies or Vlad often to debates although I was forbidden from speaking about politics by Vlad. I did enjoy listening to them and keeping tabs on my husbands activities. Afterwards in our bed chamber, I would ask him questions about the terms and things they used and what they meant and Vlad was more than happy to oblige me. Probably thinking it was "cute" that I tried improving my knowledge of his empire. But the purpose was, I'm afraid, far more selfish in my mind.

We were more popular among city folk, although rotting corpses strung up high on stakes surrounded the outskirts of the city. They knew Vlad was to blame, but surprisingly the Wallachs saw it as a forth coming. He was a messiah to his people. A savior to us all.

But still because of this, I forbade Mihnea from leaving the castle without me or entering town in anyway. I would not let my husbands morality spoil my own flesh and blood.

He made deals with the boyars of the roadways in and out of Wallachia, effectively bringing trade back into the city. The citizens were happy, the children played in the streets, and there was no crime aside from the selfish boyars that were not happy with Vlad's decisions. Claiming it made the city unpleasant for travelers, so they would not come near (Though if the travelers don't come near, the Boyars do not make much money). I followed Vlad into town one day, though he protested hotly because I am with child but I went anyway.

"Fresh air is good for growing babies." I said, a grin warming my features.

and so we went. He proclaimed to the townspeople that he would be a fair and just ruler in the land of Wallachia for all, even travelers and Roma. He then placed a golden goblet in the middle of Tirgoviste and told them that they may drink from it if they are thirsty, but if it was to ever disappear or be stolen, he would destroy the entire city. I believed he truly would.

Aside from my classes, I was having a whole new wardrobe conspired for myself, Mihnea, and even the baby to come. A new seamstress from the royal court of the emporer himself came and took my measurements for hours on end. It was itchy and unpleasant and the dresses were tight against my growing stomach. My old maternity dresses had become old and worn, so she was commissioned to produce a few of those as well. The fabrics were exotic and very expensive, the dresses were heavily embroidered and weighed tons. The ultimate sign of the ruling class.

Stefan was due to be wed at the end of March and everybody was buzzing.. besides Stefan. I mostly spent my day's in the corners or in the library reading books (whenever Stefan was out hunting or doing other things, so that he was not there like he usually was) and on looking the other ladies and men of the house. Vlad had selected four members to be of his court, Stefan included. Of course these members of the court were invited to live with us in the castle with their families. This brought a whole new wave of faces.

There was a lady named Florina of only eighteen years. She was married to Vlad's member of court, Anton. Florina was sweet and smelled of pine and the color green. She was fair skinned, but not as fair as I. She held her sand colored hair up in braid most of the time while her light brown eyes were meek. She enjoyed singing and walking in the gardens.

She was one of the first friends that I made among these ladies who would become my future companions. She and Anton had three children together, as they had been married since Florina was only thirteen years of age. Their oldest was a girl just turning six named Lavinia, the middle girl called Iulia, and the youngest a baby boy named Cornel.

The second lady to arrive to the fortress was a Hungarian woman named Marcela. A woman with dark brown hair and grey eyes. She was grouchy at times but funny to joke around with. Her mind was lewd and twisted, but hilarious none the less. She is twenty-five and has two sons, one eleven year old named Henric and a ten year old named Ioan. Both of whom were smart-mouthed and uncouth and a trouble to everyone who comes across them.

Even Vlad steers clear of the little monsters. Marcela's husband is named Nicolae, a grey Transylvanian man in his forties. Marcela is often unhappy with him and he expresses much disdain about her, even going so far as to call her an "old hag" in front of his highness, Prince Dracula III. They often do not speak and even stay in different wings of the fortress.

The third lady was the most entertaining and frivolous of all five of us. A blond and shapely girl named Catalina. She has crystal clear blue eyes that could cut straight through your soul. She giggles in response to most things and spends most of her time sewing or flirting with the pages and soldiers. She is also the youngest of the group at only sixteen years and is also barely pregnant with her first child.

Despite this, she is still young and quite the vixen, stealing most first glances her way. I even catch Vlad staring at her curvy body every now and again. Her husband is also fairly young and just as blond as she, a man named Nandru, who is only twenty.

The fourth was perhaps the most foul and dejected. We, specifically I, did not enjoy her presence and often did not invite her to our meetings. This fourth woman is of course, Evdokia of the Olelkovich family. She was dark as night with hair as black as ink and dark brown eyes to match. She wore black and grey exclusively and did not know the meaning of "your hurting my feelings". She was as twisted as a branch and as venomous as a snake.

However, she had no power here. She spent most of her time trying to cheer Stefan up, who since I arrived, had been most glum. She hung on his arm like an ornament and he did not like her one bit. She was whiny and clingy with the most unpleasant Hungarian accent and rumor had it that she was as fertile as sand. Vlad had told me that she had a husband before Stefan, an old man in his fifties but he died before they could produce any children.

That made her unclean and thought to be a witch, but her family was noble and of polish decent. They came to Hungary and quickly arranged another marriage through King Bogdan (knowing that he would have no knowledge of her unholy past) before his untimely passing. If it hadn't of been for that, she would have probably been burned. Not that I saw a problem with that at all.

However, despite all of these wonderful personalities, everybody was focused on me. My life and children ruled the topics of most our conversations. I was like a Queen to them. Even to Marcela, who was older than me. We sat in a circle by in the banquet hall next to a big open window most days or out on the terrace and we would talk, sew, play cards, or drink. They all watched how I stitched, all read the books I enjoyed, all insisted that I give them lessons in Literature and dancing.

Vlad delighted in seeing me become more comfortable with this, often commenting on it when we are alone. I knew he enjoyed the fact that I was growing into my role as a royal. A role that came so easily to him.

The Turkish whore was not a problem for me on a regular basis. After Vlad returned to me, I demanded to have her removed for she was upsetting me and the baby, so much so that I may even miscarry. After that incident in the hall, Vlad had moved her chambers to the servants quarters and confided in me, telling me he had no further use for her but had to keep her here least she run tattle tailing to the Sultan. She could not find company among us and those of the noble class, as she was only a bed mate. She spent her days roaming the hallways, making odd noises and chanting things in Turkish, holding a copy of her beloved Quran.

After I had come to observe her more, I could tell that she was just a mouse pretending to be a lioness. A scared little girl trapped in her own mind. Pathetic.

As the day's worn on, time did not stop for me so that I could enjoy the delights of this fruit I now called my life. My pregnancy progressed and soon, I was to start my laying in. Vlad had a separate more grande room prepared for me. The room in which I stayed was indeed grande. With my favorite tapestries and books strewn about. Whispy curtains let in just the right amount of air and light. All of my jewelry and dresses had been brought into a room which was connected to mine, as well as a huge bath room that I had all too myself. Surely I had the grandest room in the entire castle!

Vlad had recovered and brought me some of his mother's own jewelry and her bible, which I kept very close to me. It was a precious heirloom that kept the room warm and graceful. Vlad visited me often after I started my laying in as I had gotten so huge that I was unable to walk. He brought me treats, exotic fruit from different countries and elaborate pieces of jewelry. However, as of late, he had been gone due to war or negotiations that needed tending in other cities so his visits were very nice and most appreciated (Not to mention the rumors that swirled about his other mistresses in the many cities of Wallachia, Transylvania, Moldova and Hungry). Although I still feared that when the baby did decide to arrive, Vlad would be gone again.

He would often just sit by me and lay his head on my belly. Talking to the unborn child inside. I offered to him the prospect that it would be a girl. He replied with, "Dracul's do not produce girls."

Whilst locked away from the world, I used my time wisely. Painting a picture of the Carpathians in the winter, making new lullaby's to sing for the new baby, playing with Mihnea and teaching him all about baby sisters, playing cards with my ladies in waiting in front of the fire, and reading of course. I also had meetings with various dignitaries who came into town to meet with my husband. I was surprised at first, for what man of importance would want to speak with me, a mere Countess? I thought everything having to do with that would be resigned to Vlad, his generals, and his court only.

This was a peaceful and good time in our lives. Vlad, although gone for long periods of time, often made the time to bring gifts to Mihnea and I and for the new baby. We often went on family picnics and scenic walks through the Wallachian forests. To Mihnea, this was a new world that he knew nothing about. Having been raised mostly in Hungary and Transylvania for his entire life but to Vlad and I, this was our first and only home and the place in which we wanted to raise our children to be exceptional and patriotic people.

Vlad was much happier here and that improved the quality of everyone's life at the time. However, as weeks turned to months and Stefan's wedding passed, he started becoming impatient. He kept hordes of turkish soldiers and slaves as prisoners in multiple fortresses located in many parts of Wallachia. After a long while, it became known to me that he enjoyed torturing people occasionally (mostly young girls). More rumors started to appear over time, being whispered by the young gossiping chamber maids in the hallways as they pasted by. Most of them being the most ridiculous things I had ever heard. Once, one even said that the rumor was that Vlad forced unfaithful wives to eat their own babies, which would have been the product of an unholy union. Although completely untrue and unbelievable, it scared me to think he was gaining such a reputation and after complaining to Vlad, I never heard of that young girl ever again. Which scared me even more.

After this, I receded into my rooms more often and spent my time writing in my journal or sketching. Only allowing a select few ladies to attend to me and Mihnea.

Vlad's war efforts started paying off as he pillaged towns around Sibiiu, although purposly avoiding the main city itself due to his ties to the nobles there who had offered to provide shelter and teachings for Mihnea until he was of age to take the throne. He slaughtered unfaithful Transylvanian Saxons in the cities though his reign of destruction did not end there. He also destroyed cities around Brasov, where some of the pretender princes such as Vlads rival and half-brother Vlad Calugarul and Vlad Dan II (Of the Danestii noble family) were staying. Through this, we hoped that they would be driven out of our territory, never to return. Or better yet, murdered.

As spring drew to a close and summer appeared, so did my little girl. I was sitting with my husband and Florina and her husband, Anton, eating dinner after Vlad had returned from another extensive trip to Transylvania when all of a sudden I felt something wet trickle down my legs. Informing Vlad in front of our guests was the most embarrassing thing I have ever done in my life so far.

"Vlad," I said nervously, shifting in my wet underskirt.

"Yes? Is anything the matter?" He looked up at me, placing a piece of meat back down on his plate in worry. His beard and mustache had grown out quite a bit, a couple grey hairs flaunting themselves, bread crumbs sticking to the overall black mass.

"The baby is on it's way."

"Oh." Florina said lightly in surprise, spotting the trickle of water on the floor.

He sat there wide-eyed for a moment, for when I had labor pains with Mihnea he was out on a hunting excursion only to come back and find that the baby was already half way there. However, the rush of emotions was not enough to thwart even him. He called upon the surgeon immediately and carried me all the way to my room, but there was no need and despite the efforts of my ladies in waiting, Vlad stayed in the room throughout the entire procedure. I lay on the bed shivering from the intense pain, a dozens strangers watching me, but to my surprise the babies head had already begun emerging long before the bath matron arrived.

"It's coming." I groaned to Vlad, practically pulverizing his hand in mine. Florina worked quietly, softly pressing a damp clothe to my forehead. "I cannot keep it. It's coming!"

I screamed in pain as I tried to resist the urge to push this thing out of my body.

Vlad, who was becoming impatient and agitated, tapped his foot impatiently against the floor next to the bed. Sweat glistened on his tan forehead as he begged for me to wait for just a little while longer.

"I cannot! It's slipping..." I grit my teeth so hard that they cracked.

She came out of me with ease with the help of my ladies in waiting. After the baffled surgeon arrived just mere moments later Vlad had him taken away and buried alive in the back country of Targoviste for being late, stating I or the baby could have died in our wait.

She was so small and so quiet. Nearly half the size Mihnea was when he was born. She did not release even a whimper. I thought for a moment that she was stillborn, but after a few moments of silence, her high pitched scream bounced off of the walls. Vlad was the first to hold her.

Never had I seen a grown man so enraptured with his own daughter. Vlad sat with her by the fire at the end of the bed in which I rested long after she was born, analyzing her face and speaking softly to her. He was enchanted by her, this tiny girl who weighed only as much as three apples. She had Vlad's dark hair and a tiny nose. Soft red lips with pale skin and if you looked, you could see the beginning of curls beginning to form in her hair but the most suprising thing of all was her eyes. A brilliant sea blue. She was perfect. She was unlike anything Vlad or I was expecting.

Florina sat next to me after the birth and helped my ladies clean up the room and remove the bloody sheets. After everything was said and done, I excused my ladies from the room and the five of us (Including Florina's husband, Anton) sat quietly until Vlad interrupted our peace.

"What shall be her name?" Vlad called to me softly from his place by the fire. A bundle of white in his arms.

"Well...," I drew in a breath slowly and looked over at a grinning Florina, who was twirling her sandy hair around her fingers slyly. "Florina and I came up with several."

"Tell me." He smiled, kissing the sleeping babe on the forehead softly.

"Well...," Florina started, her voice was high like a twinkling chime in the distance. "Adriana."

"No. That means "dark"." He shook his head.

"Madalina?" I asked.

"Hmmm...," He stroked his beard as if thinking. "Perhaps."

"... Sultana?" Anton suggested jokingly from the corner.

"Bite your tounge." Florina gasped, swatting playfully at her husband.

I giggled weakly. "Cornelia, then?"

"I like that." Vlad interjected as he adjusted his arms to the squirming little girl.

"Nadia?" Florina added.

"No," I groaned "That sounds Turkish."

I turned my attention back to my husband, "Vlad, I really like Madalina."

"Madalina...," He said it slowly to the baby. "Alright. Madalina it is." He smiled at our newborn child.

"It means "magnificent"." Florina added, sitting back in her chair.

"Ah, yes." Vlad chuckled, obviously directing his speech to the baby now. "Perhaps you will be a good friend of our Lord, as well, little one..."

A/N - Hello, hello. Yes, I am back again so soon. I hope you all liked it and WOW was that a super freaking long chapter. Don't forget to review. And yeah... I didn't put in any Romanian or that much because... I'm super lazy. Maybe I will put some more in later... Meh.

Also*** Some of you are wondering, is Aurelia a peasant? Well no. Because if you didn't know, it says that Vlad III Dracula's first wife was a noble Transylvanian women. Secondly, I open up the story with them living in the same house as children. This would have only ever been permitted if they were both of royal class. Noble children in feudal Wallachia were segregated from their fathers and older siblings to live and be taught in a house full of the wives of boyars (nobles), their own mother, noble daughters, and maids until they are about ten or eleven.

Romanian (and other) Words:

Madalina: It means "Of Magdala" and "magnificent". Magdala was a saint and was healed by Jesus Christ by purifying her of all evils and impurities. She was also rumored to be the woman who rinsed Christ's feet with her tears. (New Testament)

Roma: "roma" is the slang term that has been used since roughly the 11th century referring to gypsies who originate from the eastern European region. They were often unwelcome in Wallachia because they did not have jobs and supported their families by either stealing or begging on the streets for food or money from wealthier peoples.

(Arabic) Quran: The Muslim bible.