Fluffiness, some smut, and slight plot progression. It is a short chapter compared to my others, but I've been negligent in getting these out so I hope it will spur me to write again tomorrow night after work ;)

Karigan stirred with a light groan, wrinkling her nose as she blew a strand of ticklish hair from her face. Zachary's arm hung around her waist loosely while his even breaths blew across the nape of her neck, drawing a content smile from her as she scooted herself back into the warmth of his body.

He murmured in his sleep, his hand coming up to curl around her ribcage as he buried his face into her hair. Her eyes flew open with the rush of heat that flowed to her belly, but she held herself still as she peeked about the room appraisingly. It was still rather early in the morning, with only a few rays of light peeking through the heavy curtains. The trays placed upon the small table had been cleared away, and the fire was now burning low in its grate.

Zachary moved again, this time tugging Karigan closer as his subconscious sought to stay in the pleasant realm of his dreams. She grinned, despite her own drowsiness, and wiggled her bottom against him to draw him from his sleep. He brushed his arm down and pressed his splayed hand against her stomach, holding her still against his growing arousal while locating her ear with his lips. 'Is there a reason why we are awake?'

'The house will begin to wake soon,' she replied softly, stretching her arms above her head with a yawn.

He fell back onto the pillows with a roll of his eyes and hugged her closer, 'Soo hard to care when I'm so relaxed.'

Karigan wiggled again with a mischievous smile, 'Would you not like to investigate more here in the city?'

'We have a few hours that could be devoted to other things,' he muttered against her skin. She turned in his arms until she was able to look into his heavy lidded eyes and queried, 'Like eating breakfast?'

Her shrieks and laughter could be heard down the corridor of the floor, drawing forth a small amused smile from the upstairs maid, who continued past that particular door for the time being and went to the next to continue with her chores.

It was a blushing Karigan who almost ran down the stairs in order to flee the grasping hands of her husband and to finally partake in some much needed sustenance. Instead of the formal dining table that was used for guests in a more austere setting, the family and the Weapons had convened instead around the kitchen table and the nearby counters in order to enjoy the open blaze from the hearth. Fastion looked up from his piled plate to meet the happy gaze of his queen, an almost imperceptible twinkle in his eyes as he gave a small incline of his head in acknowledgement. Brienne's eyes smiled at Karigan from over the rim of her teacup, but she maintained her silence as both Weapons watched their queen seat herself next to Stace and Britta. Karigan keenly felt their observation but oddly enough, did not feel shame or embarrassment that they knew of what had transpired; only a sense of contentment.

A few moments later saw the arrival of Zachary, with a flushed face and a wide grin for those assembled in the kitchen. Fastion arched an eyebrow at his liege mockingly, 'Good morning, sire.'

'Good morning, Fastion,' Zachary replied archly as he sat across from Karigan, casually pouring himself a cup of kauv from the pot in the center of the table. He gracefully bid each of their aunts a good morning and struck up a conversation with Tori, all the while keeping his booted feet casually propped up against Karigan's underneath the table. She chewed her food slowly and kept her eyes down on her plate, only occasionally answering the queries of Stace with brief replies. Zachary's eyes would stray over to her face, examining the faint pink stain that would creep into her cheekbones when she became aware of his scrutiny. Her hair was pulled back in her customary braid, but a few loose tendrils wisped around her face as she lowered her chin. The corner of Zachary's mouth threatened to quirk up at her adorable shyness, thus he gave her smaller foot a solid nudge with his boot.

Startled, Karigan dropped her fork and looked up directly into his gaze with wide eyes, her mouth slightly parted. Stace, who had been not so covertly observing the interaction, stifled a laugh and gave her niece a playful pat on the shoulder, 'Where is your mind this morning, my girl?'

Brini's eyes lightened up with mirth, 'Perhaps she is still tired? Did the rest of you hear the storm last night?'

Karigan's gawked at her aunts, 'Storm?'

Tori nodded solemnly at Brini, sweeping her gaze across the table towards her niece and nephew, 'You haven't been gone so long from Corsa that you have forgotten the spring storms here, have you? Oh the wind and rain last night! The thunder! Did you not hear it?'

The tips of Zachary's ears turned an interesting shade of red as he focused his attention on spreading jam on a piece of toast.

'I think I might have heard something,' Fastion drawled with a grin towards his king, lifting his cup to down the last of his tea. Brienne frowned and pinched his side, causing him to choke down the remains of his hot beverage and cough violently.

Gretta shrugged and stood, gathering her plate and mug, 'I know I didn't sleep that well last night. With the wind howling and the thunder almost shaking the house . . . it was almost as if the storm hovered over us for hours!'

Karigan was at a loss for words, briefly glancing over at Zachary who met her look helplessly. She took a deep breath and raised her shoulders nonchalantly, 'We did not hear anything I'm afraid, out cold from the road.'

Stace peered suspiciously out the window, 'I think we still had a few storm clouds lingering this morning, for I swear I heard a few gusts of wind hit the house and rattle the walls.'

Fastion's fit intensified as he struggled to keep from laughing with a constricted airway. Brienne helpfully pounded on his back as she too, bit her lip in an attempt to keep from grinning. Karigan scowled as she stood, walking over to the coat stand to bundle up, 'I am going to go visit Condor for a spell.'

Zachary leapt up from his chair, 'I'll come with, check on my mount as well.'

Stace inclined her head towards the two of them, 'I expect Stevic around luncheon, be sure to keep close. We wouldn't want any storms to brew up while you two are down at the stables, eh?'

Karigan rammed her cap on her head and hissed, 'Dear gods, stop it!'

Zachary just grabbed his outerwear off the hook, not even bothering to throw it on as he barreled out the door, with Karigan in tow as she pointed her index finger threateningly at her beaming aunts. As soon as the kitchen door closed behind them, they heard the burst of loud and uproarious laughter accompany their departure.

He sighed and tugged his coat on, 'It's like having four Larens in one room. I can't help but feel I am always in trouble.'

Karigan turned and assisted him with the fastenings, 'Even if we were not in trouble, we never stood a chance with their pranks,' she said with a wry smile. He stayed her hands on his chest with one hand and reached out to draw her closer, planting a kiss on her forehead. 'Still rather nice having a family again,' he admitted.

She smiled gently, 'And for all the mischief they cause, I wouldn't have them any other way.'

He returned the smile tenderly, 'Stables?'

Karigan straightened with a nod, 'Then luncheon.'

It was several hours later, when the sun was beginning to crest overhead that they returned from the stables and barns, thoroughly covered in bits of hay despite their joint attempts to brush it from their clothing. She grimaced as she slowly extracted yellow strands from her braid, 'Maybe we should go in another door.'

He turned her around and helped brush her collar off, 'Too late. They know.'

Karigan scoffed and angled her head over her shoulder, 'How?'

Zachary pointed to the window where several faces eagerly peered out into the yard. Karigan sagged her shoulders forward, 'This will not end until we actually procreate.'

He nodded grimly and slipped an arm around her waist, 'So best go in and get this over with.'

She chuckled and they walked forward; Zachary stepping back slightly to allow her to open the door and enter first. They closed the door behind them and looked to the kitchen table, beholding the haggard countenance of Stevic G'ladheon as he sat heavily in his chair, with his sisters arranged around him in concern.

Karigan's brow wrinkled as she walked forward tentatively, 'Father?'

Stevic's bleary eyes rose up to meet his daughter's as he offered her a weak smile, 'Kari. Your Majesty, I'm glad to see you so soon after the wedding.'

Karigan reached out behind her, grasping Zachary's hand as she brought him forward into view, 'We came, Da. We know that things have not been right here in Corsa,' she said gently. Zachary's hand briefly squeezed hers in reassurance as they gauged Stevic's reaction. The older man's eyes dropped resignedly to the table, 'Aye, I knew it would not be long before word began to leave the city. Despite our efforts to keep this within the guilds and clans.'

A dark tendril of fear wrapped around Karigan's heart as she beheld the strong man she knew as her father waver and pause over his words. The lines had deepened on his face, added to the unhealthy pallor that was present on his countenance. He looked to be a man heavily burdened with the secrets he had kept thus far, and the strain was beginning to take its toll on his body.

Karigan dropped Zachary's hand slowly and crept forward, kneeling at her father's side and whispering, 'What is happening that you do not wish the rest of us to know?'

Stevic turned his gaze to her reluctantly, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear as he struggled to find the words. 'There are traitors in the city,' he whispered. 'Spies that are amongst us, within our homes and out on our streets. They are paving the way for more to come,' he said with an edge of fear in his voice, looking up to meet the stare of his king.

Zachary's measured tones sounded in the quiet room, 'Why did you not seek our aid when you learned of this?'

Stevic shook his head slightly, 'We thought it would make things worse. Tip off any one of them and they'd report back to their superiors, but the situation got out of our hands. Simple folk, craftsmen and the like, began to go missing in the more modest neighborhoods. Those that were situated closer to the water.'

He rubbed his hand over his eyes roughly, 'We figured they must have seen things and were dealt with quietly.'

Karigan queried softly, 'What would those people have seen? Just from their homes?'

Stevic let out a breath, 'We've found evidence of tampering at the docks, the warehouses, and even with some of the berthed ships that lay at anchor. Seems someone is intent on making sure that the city would not be able to muster a response to a threat.'

'Still,' Zachary pressed, 'Why not let the Lord-Governor know? Or quietly let one of the many Riders that Kari sent know of this?'

Stevic closed his eyes, his large frame seeming diminutive in his chair, 'Because, my boy, one of the main instigators of this hidden movement is within the clan leadership. One our own is helping to orchestrate the downfall of Sacoridia, and I now know that I am being watched most carefully.'

Yeah short. But I am writing again. So meh.