'You're enormous. Like a beached netch.'

She opened one eye to look at me and frowned as she lay in the bath, her toes wriggling slightly in annoyance at my comment.

I grinned as I leaned over from my chair and gathered her hair in my hands, running my fingers through its smooth, glossy blackness as I let it fall over the side of the stone. 'It seems to be a compliment when other people tell you how pregnant you are. I don't understand this women's business.'

'Yes you do. Stop being a jackass.'

A slight smile appeared on her white lips as she closed her eyes again, exhaling gently as she sank a little further into the barely warm water. Gleamblossom petals floated around her and rested on the edge of the bath; the white candles burned gently and the incense smoke twirled hypnotically through the air.

The preceding six months had been stressful.

She had not miscarried; but she had been suffering from terrible nightmares, the nature of which she had refused to disclose to me.

Virdanyis was not allowed near her, much to his bewilderment and frustration; although she was more forgiving toward me, there were times when she looked at me with terror in her eyes. At other times, it was rage. She would often wake screaming and sobbing in the night, her clothes wet with sweat and tears. She constantly worried about defending The Vale, wringing her hands as she incessantly spoke of how weak she had become.

I longed to comfort her and bring her peace, but it sometimes seemed as if I was a large part of what was upsetting her.

I could see her trying to push past it; There had been times when she would fall asleep with my arms around her, and I would rest my hand on the smooth hardness of her belly, feeling the kicks and movements and smiling softly to myself as she slept.

We had not been intimate since she had returned from the bloody fields of Winterhold.

While I hungered for it like any other man - I found her ever changing shape to be especially beautiful and feminine - I knew better than to hound her. After seeing what she had done to the Thalmor army, I was almost too afraid. I'd spend my time training with the Redoran Elite, or hunting in the snowy forests instead.

It was a poor substitute.

My men and the Falmer girls of The Vale had taken very well to one another - there were quite a few couples, and even four weddings. I often sat on the great balcony of the inner sanctum with Virdanyis and we smoked a pipe and drank kynsin as I watched them, feeling sorry for myself.

The fact that Virdanyis never seemed to be short of willing partners - apparently of both sexes - was entirely unhelpful. Although he never really spoke of his exploits, it was easy to see that he rarely slept alone. My baser needs were making it difficult to turn my head away from the flirtatious glances of the pretty Falmer girls who had developed a taste for rugged Dunmer men; hearing them exchange stories in hushed giggles in the drinking hall as they lauded the more discreet talents of the Redoran Elite was torturous.

Little waves appeared in the bath water as the babies kicked; I smiled as I gazed down at it, pulling my gaze away from Nysteris' lovely nakedness.

'Has Nieven told you what we're expecting yet?', I asked softly, leaning forward again to remove a petal from her shoulder, her white, wet skin gleaming like polished marble.

'No. But they feel like boys.' She turned her head toward me and looked up, a small smile upon her lips.

'Really?' I grinned broadly, a flourish of excitement blooming in my chest as I stroked her hair again. 'Shall I begin choosing obscure Dunmer names?'

'Like what?' She smiled as she closed her eyes and rested her head back against the edge of the bath, seemingly enjoying the feeling of my fingers running through her hair.

'I don't know. I haven't started thinking of any yet.' I pouted comically as I pretended to think. 'Marayn? Relyn? Sulin?'

'You made those up.'

'I did not. My father's name was Marayn.'

'You liar.' She laughed quietly as she lazily reached out over the side of the bath to gently curl her fingers around mine. 'And you forgot that he's still alive.'

I smiled. 'You'll meet him one day soon; I'll make sure of it. I want to see the look on his face. We'll take the dragons.'

The smile slowly faded from her face as she stared ahead of her, gazing miles away as she was lost deep in thought.

'I've been doing some thinking.' Her voice was calm and quiet. 'I need to go away for a while.'

I frowned, rubbing her hand with my thumb. 'Where? You mean after the birth, don't you?'

'...No.' she paused slightly, her gaze still detached. 'Very soon. By myself.'

A ripple of surprise and panic washed over me as I stared at her.

'You can't be serious.' My voice dropped to a low and serious monotone. 'Nysteris, you're only two months away from giving birth. You're defenseless. You are not going anywhere.'

She slowly turned her head to look at me. 'You can try to stop me. But you won't win.' She paused, her gaze burning into me as she continued to speak slowly. 'I wish I could explain it to you. You will understand later.'

I began to panic.

'Look, whatever it is you need to do, it can wait. Just try to explain it to me; you might be surprised.'

'...No.' Her tone was firm. 'I... Can't.'