A/N: So sorry about not keeping this more updated. Just finished with Nano this past November. I added a little smut at the end to make it up for everyone.

Chapter 20

She eased the dress over her head and tied the stays just enough to make it look like they were tight against her torso. After three days in bed, Liyah was ready to get back out into the social world of the Palace. Everyone from her two ladies all the way up to Rolande had urged her to remain in bed, but she ignored them. Three days and she hadn't shown any sign of post labor and delivery infection, and she was tired of being pampered to.

"I'd really like it if you remained in bed for another day or two," Henri attempted one last time.

"Women in my country have done this for years." Liyah brushed the skirt and turned to her husband. "First world medicine and all."

"Mayhap one day you could show me this world of yours."

Liyah settled herself with a breath. She hadn't thought of Earth since giving up the quest of finding the coordinates back. "I promise I will one day." She gathered up Embre who looked up at her with the piercing blue eyes that was a Shahrizai trait. "Now, can we go out? I'm tired of seeing these four walls."

Henri nodded and saw to opening the door himself. Liyah stepped out into the corridor as Isabel passed by. The Princess Consort stopped for a few seconds as she gave Liyah a glare out from the corner of her eye before continuing on her way.

"Don't worry about her. I know some people who want to see their little cousin."

Liyah followed along, stopping every few feet as various member of the nobility wanted to see the youngest member of House Courcel and Shahrizai. She understood where they were going, having visited the Shahrizai suite many times since the beginning of her relationship with Henri. How long Liyah was there with her Shahrizai side of the family, she didn't know, and was for some reason assured that they would do their best to take care of her. Leaving them, Liyah sent word she wished for the carriage to be prepared as she went in search of Rolande.

"I'm sorry I hadn't come to visit before," the dauphin told her when Liyah found him going over parchments with the Royal Commander. "It seems that the Skaldi are testing the borders again."

"So what does that mean for us?" Hearing that the borders were being tested didn't bode well for Liyah.

"So far we've increased patrols in Camlach," Rolande told her.

"And I'll be leaving to join them before the day's done," Percy added. "With luck the Skaldi will be chased back to wherever they came from."

"I hope it can be done without losing a lot of our forces." She feared that Rolande might get the idea in his head that he would go out to the front lines and lead a charge.

"Don't you worry your pretty little head off," Percy told her. "You just let us men handle the bloody part of war and you can go about doing whatever embroidry project you were doing."

Liyah half snorted. "Don't be mistaken that just because I'm a woman that I can't handle the sights and smells of battle. Women may not actively participate in battle here, but where I come from, women serve actively in the military in all aspects."

"Then you should join us on the front lines. Let me find you armor that would fit and a small sword," Percy half joked.

"Not necessary, cousin," Rolande cut in. "Liyah has duties here. Go head, Percy. I'll see you soon enough. I need to speak with Liyah in private." He waited until the door closed. "I feel like I've been relying on you more and more, Liyah. I ask yet one more thing from you. I want you, and Anafiel, to swear that you would watch over my child and make sure that they would ascend the throne in the events that I perish in battle."

Liyah frown a little at hearing that Rolande mentioned Anafiel. The two of them had a falling out, but it seemed that the two men mended their bond. "When do you want to do that?"

"When Isabel gives birth in another couple months. Will you do this for me?"

There wasn't much she could gain in swearing the oath, but there wasn't much she could lose in it as well. "I see nothing to prevent me from doing it."

"Thank you, Liyah."

The days passed and winter came in with a blizzard that slowed everything in the city. Liyah had watched Embre grow and showed signs of personality. She didn't like having to bind her daughter to be in the line of a throne neither of then had any right to claim. It seemed like it had been two years ago Liyah had wanted to return to Earth. Now she couldn't really picture being anywhere. A life where she had the love and support of a husand and having the ability to give someone what her own mother hadn't been able to give to her.

When the first signs of the blizzards were seen, Liyah had slipped back into the royal stables from a visit to Anafiel with Embre. Sure it had been a risk, but she hadn't wanted to bother any of the guards and livery in the stables to hook up a carriage and escort her through the city. If word got back to Rolande, or gods forbide Isabel then Rolande, she would deal with him if he brought the subject up. The streets had been quiet and Liyah had made sure her infant daughter had been wrapped up and protected from the cold. She would keep an eye on Embre in the next few weeks to make sure the two month old didn't develop a cold or flu.

A muffled cry of pain bounced down the hall as Liyah approached her suite. Continuing down the hallway, she came to a stop at the closed door that led into the dauphin's chambers. A small crowd had started to form as she stood there and listened to the screams.

"She's not due for time yet." The voice was stressed. "She won't have anyone but the midwives in there."

"Then there's no point on me going in there." Liyah turned and looked at Rolande. "Especially when I'm holding my own child." She started back down the corridor toward her suite, hoping to spend some leisure time.

Hours passed by as the blizzard raged on, Shuffling of feet were a near constant out in the corridor. She wasn't sure at what point the palace quieted down or when Henri returned to the suite smelling a little of alcohol and boosting of his winnings from the Hall of Games.

"Isabel's making quite a scene," he said as someone ran past the closed door. "I wonder if that child would ever come."

"It could take a day or two for a child to be born," Liyah replied, barely looking up from the book she had been reading the past few hours.

"So it seems." He walked over and leaned down and kissed a cheek. "I'm feeling a little lonely."

Liyah chuckled more to herself as she closed the book. Embre was sleeping for the time being not that far off and Madine was minding the infant. "And how do you plan on fixing that?" She set the book on the table and pushed herself to her feet.

"Oh, I don't know." He reached out and eased her away from the chair. "Maybe get you out of those clothes that smell faintly of horse. Then maybe get these clothes off of me. After that, I have no idea."

"You mean like this?" Liyah removed her hands from Henri's and pulled a string of one of her stays, causing her dress to hang loose on her body. Maybe she should have watched a few more romantic comedies and taken notes on how to seductively remove her clothes. Of course the actresses in the movies never had to deal with medieval dresses. She then reached out and undid Henri's shirt. His breathing had quicken a little as Liyah eased his shirt off his torso, revealing the good build. Running her hands over the bare skin, she barely touched her lips to his.

"You've been to Heliotrope," Henri said.

Liyah shook her head. "Never have been to the Night Court as you had promised. But I wanted to try something." A hand dove down and brushed against his breeches and felt he grown excited. But she had something in mind. Guiding Henri back and sitting on the foot end of the bed, Liyah worked one arm than the other before allowing the dress to drop and pool at her feet. Left with the chemise, she attempted a sultry walk and tripped up. Landing on her knees, Liyah felt her hands slide up Henri's thighs and came to rest at the stays of the breeches. His breath hitched as she worked the stays open and teased his phallus out. Easing her mouth over it, she heard a gasp as Henri fell back on the bed. Working him, Liyah stopped when it felt like he was going to climax.

Hearing a disappointed sound from her husband, Liyah eased herself to her feet and pulled the chemise up over her head. Still between Henri's legs, she tightened up when a sudden hand slipped between hers. Relaxing her body, a finger on the intruding hand teased at her bud, working her body to the brink before pulling away. Feeling her juices coat her nether region thoroughly, Liyah pulled one leg up on one side of Henri's lap, then the other, holding herself just above the quivering member of her partner. He brought his hips up, brushing himself against her, teasing her.

"Okay, that's enough teasing." Liyah adjusted Henri's phallus and eased it in. Shifting her hips, she worked in a slow motion to tease even more.

"I thought no more teasing," Henri said, attempting to sit up.

"I like teasing you." She pushed him onto his back. "Would you be able to get this from any of the Night Court?" Moving her hips, she rested her body against his as she worked a nipple into erectness with her tongue.

A shuddered breath came from Henri. "It's possible, but I doubt any would be able to work me up so quickly."

"So nice to know." Liyah increased her speed a little, wanting to bring them both to climax.

Henri wrapped his arms around her and adjusted his legs to flip her onto her back. "I'm going have to take you to Valerian. You might like it." He thrusted into her as he latched his mouth onto a nipple.

Her breathing heavy, her hips buckling, Liyah worked on building her ectasy. "Val...later. Me...now."

"Oh...You're making out to be an excellent Mandrake already." He moved to the other nipple, moving in tandem with Liyah's hips.

Liyah seemed to feel like Henri was nearing his climax and met him in her own when he finally spilled his seed in her. "Then we'll go...another day."