A/N: Hello everyone! Thanks for continuing to read my stories! I truly appreciate the likes, follows, and reviews! As per usual, I don't own Narnian characters from the books...or movies.

CHAPTER 14

We're all sitting around talking at breakfast the next morning when I get distracted. I've seen quite a few of our servants walking by in a hurry, some with arms full of what looks like Christmas decorations.

I finally look back towards our table and Molly looks amused at the confusion that's so obvious on my face. "Yes?" She asks in a mocking tone.

I grab a roll and throw it at her. "Don't 'yes' me! I can tell something is going on out there. Everyone's in a frenzy!"

"Have you forgotten what time of the year it is?" She asks teasingly.

"Of course not! It's almost Christmas!"

"Yes, and what do we usually have right before Christmas?"

"Oh! The Christmas Ball." It's really just a giant party that's an excuse to get together to eat and have fun. "I wasn't sure we'd be having it since we just got back. Well, that's great! When is it exactly?"

"Saturday."

Great. Five days. They've given me five days to prepare. Normally I wouldn't have thought anything of it, but my clothing has started to become a big problem. Without even trying them on, I know for a fact that none of my gowns used for such occasions will fit. Thankfully there are perks to being queen. I'll have to trust our head seamstress with keeping my secret. And I suppose that the party will be a perfect time to let everyone know the great news.

I go straight to my room to figure out what to do. Caspian picked up on my apprehension without me even saying anything.

"What is it?" He asks.

"Just a queen worrying about a dress, that's all," I admit, looking at him sheepishly. "None of them will fit. I'll just have to have them altered, that's all."

He smiles and comes to stand behind me, placing his hands on my abdomen. "I'd say that's a good problem to have, though."

I place my hands over his and lean back into his protective embrace. "True. But I do think it's time to tell everyone. I can't hide it much longer. Well, not comfortably anyway. I was thinking we can make an announcement at the ball."

"Yes, I do think it's time. Although I'm a little sad it won't be our little secret anymore."

"Me too. It's been kind of fun."

"It can be fun the next time too, you know."

I turn a little to look at him, shocked. "I'm not even halfway through this pregnancy and you're already planning a second? My, my someone is ambitious."

He looks only slightly embarrassed and bits his lip. "I can't help it. I like seeing you pregnant."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Just wait until I'm huge. Then you might change your mind."

He puts a hand under my chin and tilts my head up so he can plant a deep kiss on my lips, which is just enough to make my heart start pumping fast.

"You're always beautiful to me," he says gently.

I put my hand on his neck and bring his lips back down to mine, and for a few moments, we're lost in each other.

Still, even a few blissful moments can't chase away a disturbing thought. "Do you think I might be more of a target when people find out and we'll be in danger again?"

He holds both of my hands in his. "Well, maybe. I suppose that's a possibility. But we'll stay here, in the castle. If you go anywhere, I'll make sure you'll have several guards on hand to protect you."

"You'll do the same, right? You have to stay safe."

He smiles a little at my concern. "Of course. I'll take every precaution for our family." He pauses for a moment, considering something. "I wouldn't be too worried though, my love. Any major threat is far away. And I think that the news of our defeat of the Mahjans will keep any others at bay."

"I hope so."

He kisses my forehead. "I better get back to work. If you want to stay here, I can send the seamstress straight to you."

"Yes, please. And make sure you talk to her alone and tell her not to tell anyone."

"Alright. I'll see you later," he says, shutting the door behind him.

It's only a few minutes later that she arrives, congratulating me right away. She ensures me of her confidentiality and then we get right to work with my measurements for my alterations. Then I show her my top choices for a dress. She thinks my favorite one will work just fine, but she takes a backup just in case. And best of all, she assures me she'll have it done in time.

I'm elated when she brings them both the day before the ball. My first choice fits perfectly and comfortably and I enthusiastically thank her. It's a dress I haven't worn before, but had gotten it specifically for this time of year. It's a deep forest green with a little bit of gold embroidery across the bottom. It exposes my shoulders, but has some slightly puffy sleeves that cover my upper arms. Then it's fitted through my abdomen and gets wider the lower it goes, and falls just above my feet. The seamstress then added two red bows on my hips by my sides. It's definitely more fitted than what I've been wearing lately, but it still just looks like I've gained weight. It's not completely obvious that I'm pregnant. It'll keep our secret until Caspian makes his announcement.

The next day, Caspian just works in his study and I sit in the room with him and read a book until it's time to get ready. Molly told us to stay up here since everyone is so busy, especially in the kitchen, so she stops by every once in a while to bring us food. It's actually very easy for us since it's here in the palace. I'll have all the help I need with my hair and makeup and he really only needs to change. Since it's not until sundown, we have basically all day.

After lunch, I fall asleep. I'm so comfortable and warm on my favorite spot on the couch by the fire. I must sleep for a few hours because I'm awakened by Caspian gently rubbing my back and kissing my forehead. I slowly open my eyes and see him kneeling in front of me.

"Good morning sunshine. I would have let you sleep longer, but it's about four o'clock, so I thought you might want to start getting ready."

"Mmm. Thank you. Did you get a lot of work done today?"

"When I wasn't watching you sleep, yes."

"You were not!" I exclaim.

"Only a little," he says, winking at me.

"Hey, do you know what you're saying in your speech tonight?" I ask, changing the subject.

"Yes, I do," he says proudly. "I worked on it this afternoon. It's not too long. I'm sure everyone will be very excited when they find out the news."

"Do you think we should tell our friends before we announce it like that?"

He gently shakes his head. "I don't think so. I'd rather not have anyone's feelings hurt by telling some but not others. This way, we can just make an announcement and everyone will know at the same time."

"Okay."

He stands, and then offers me his hands, which I gladly accept. He walks me to our room before returning to his study for a little while longer. He definitely won't need as long as I do to get ready. I get in my dress and Molly soon arrives with a few other ladies to help with my hair and makeup. My hair has a few loose braids in the back to help keep it away from my face, and the rest of my hair is cascading curls. I feel so beautiful when I look in the mirror when they're done.

They leave right after they finish so they can go get ready. They'll still have to work a little bit at the ball, but everyone will get some down time to have fun. Soon, Caspian arrives, and he's clearly impressed with my look. I stand up and twirl so he can see every angle.

"Wow. I might have to be beating other men off you all night. You are stunningly beautiful," he says, once again tilting my chin up so he can kiss me deeply. After a few moments, he clearly struggles to pull away. "Actually, it's going to be hard keeping myself off you all night."

I laugh. "Go get dressed loverboy," I say as I playfully shove him away. I'm not surprised when he slowly undresses, seductively staring me down the whole time. I play along and watch as he lifts his shirt over his head, leaving him bare-chested. He flexes his arm muscles, so I "oooo" and "aaahhh." Next, he steps out of his boots and removes his socks and pants, leaving him only in his underwear. He turns away from me and puts his thumbs in the waistband, then turns his head over his shoulder to look at me as he slowly lowers them to show most of his butt.

At this point, I yell, "oh yah! You sexy thing!"

He pulls them back up then blows me a kiss over his shoulder.

"Why did you stop?" I ask playfully.

"That was just a preview," he says, wasting no time to respond.

"Mmmm. I certainly hope so."

With that, he gets dressed in his suit, and when it's time, we head down to the main ballroom.

The smells of delicious foods overwhelm us as soon as we approach the doors. We have to wait for a moment to enter so they can make an official announcement for our entrance. I loop my arm through his and very soon after, we hear the music grow quiet.

A man yells out over the crowd: "Excuse me, everyone! Let me officially thank you for coming this evening for a night of lighthearted celebration. And now, I am happy to welcome our King and Queen, Caspian and Anna to the festivities."

The doors open and we smile and wave as we enter the room that is filled with cheers. We make our way through the elegantly dressed crowd and stand right behind our table and continue to wave until the cheering dies down. It's time for Caspian's speech.

"Thank you all very much for coming to celebrate with us this evening. To be honest, Queen Anna and I weren't even sure we would be having the ball this year, since we just got back from our difficult journey. I want to start by thanking Dr. Cornelius and our staff for putting everything together for us tonight." He waits for another moment for the crowd to cheer. "I am thankful for a lot this year. First, I am grateful for the safe return of our dear Molly, and for the sacrifice that so many of our soldiers made to bring her home. Not all of them made it home to us, but we will forever be grateful for them and their willingness to serve our beloved Narnia. We wouldn't have the peace that we have today without them. So, let us raise our glasses in thanks to our soldiers." The crowd toasts, and then quiets down yet again as Caspian begins again. "Now, those are not the only things that we have to be extra thankful for this year. This celebration comes at the perfect time for a special announcement."

I look over at the Professor and Molly, who are next to us at the head table. The Professor looks intrigued and Molly looks at me suspiciously. I can only smile at them in return, and they look at Caspian intently.

"My fellow Narnians, Telmarines, friends, and family, it is with great excitement that I get to announce that Queen Anna is pregnant with our first child and heir!" He yells.

The crowd immediately bursts into applause and cheering. Molly's jaw drops and the Professor has the biggest smile I've ever seen. He's the first to get up and wraps us both in a warm hug. Molly soon follows, and she has tears in her eyes. "I'm so happy for you," she says, tightly hugging me.

"Thank you. We're very excited."

Caspian has to yell again to get the attention of the crowd. "Excuse me again everyone! All I want to say now is that it's time for the feast! Please enjoy yourselves. Thank you very much!"

The rest of the evening is spent eating, laughing, and dancing. That, and thanking many, many people for their well-wishes about the baby. I'm amazed at everyone's generosity even though they don't really know us. But everyone is kind and their joy is very clear. Even though it's not very relaxing for us, we have a great time, and it's pretty late by the time we can leave. And now I can relax a little, knowing our secret is out.