When Spring seemed imminent in all but the North, Dom and Kel sent out letters not only announcing the pregnancy truly officially but inviting anyone who wished to visit around the due date to come. The most important invitations went out to Baird at the Palace and Kel's parents. The letter to Kel's parents was simply symbolic. They had spent the winter in Yaman on a surprise trip and most likely wouldn't be returning any time before summer. They were well aware of their latest incoming grandchild and had both expressed happiness for her and Dom. Baird had sent a letter back as fast as couriers traveled in the still frozen North and gave his estimated arrival as the beginning of April. By Neal's estimate his father would arrive a matter of a week or so before the babe did.
Other invites went out to Kel's siblings, pagehood friends, Roald and Shinko, and Raoul and Buri. Only polite replies of congratulations arrived from Kel's siblings and she had not expected them if her parents were not around. And Kel's friends all sent along their intents to arrive well before the babe with squires in tow. Roald and Shinko sent a letter saying Roald would be arriving with Raoul and Buri and an escort that would be coming from Third Company.
The influx of warriors that would be arriving within the next month presented a new problem to Dom and Kel. They certainly had room enough for everyone but they did not have indoor practice space for weapons and with squires along that would be a necessity. It had not been a priority in the fall since they were still working on the main parts of the castle and in the winter they had moved to working on structures already in place down in the town. There was an outdoor practice space that had a fence around it as well as a tilting lane but that was a mess of icy mud and would remain so until May. Dom set himself and a few of the better carpenters in town working on adding on a decent indoor practice court that would serve not only himself and the Lady Knight in the winter months but also any visitors or men-at-arms that wanted to use it. Dom also half considered just offering to train anyone who asked for it as a way to pass the time after things really took off in New Hope. After all, Kel had proven that most civilians wanted to learn and even the tiniest of women and children could show more aptitude and ambition than just the men. He wasn't above opening up his men-at-arms to be warriors-at-arms instead and include women but that was a point he wished to discuss with Kel so incorporations would go better.
With the ground still sloppy in places it was hard work getting the posts in place and a slightly raised platform built up to make the floor on. By the time that work was done some of Kel's friends were already arriving starting with the dark handsome Sir Faleron of King's Reach and his squire, Rose of Merrywood. After settling in and touring the castle and town they both joined Dom and his workers with gusto. Faleron used it as a work experience, explaining that knights did all sorts of jobs including construction if that's what they were called to do.
Sir Merric of Hollyrose, Sir Seaver of Tasride, and Sir Esmond of Nicoline arrived together with two squires in tow midway through March and Sir Owen of Jesslaw arrived a week later. Roald and Raoul arrived with Wolset's squad of the King's Own within a day after that. By the time Baird arrived on April 2nd, the indoor practice court was done and most of the warriors distracted enough that they no longer had to find numerous ways to entertain everyone.
Dom enjoyed seeing Kel with her friends and seeing them respond to her pregnancy with confusion and caution. Despite Kel wearing dresses and being married to a man it seemed hard for most of them to truly grasp she was female. That she was pregnant was so utterly and undeniably female that it had someone like Owen constantly tripping over his own words in trying to not treat her like a girl but also to be considerate of her and her changing body and moods. And Kel wasn't exactly moody but she also wasn't being too focused on hiding her emotions behind her mask. A frown or scowl not directed at Neal had most of her friends concerned she was about to blow her top and a slight smile had them acting like she was rewarding them all. And Kel was quiet in her way about everything to a point where anyone with a wife that had been pregnant at any time around them was convinced Kel had to be the most mild mannered pregnant woman and that went double for Neal and Roald. While both had had quiet Yamani women for wives, both quiet Yamani women had not been quiet about pregnancy.
"Kel's a treat," Roald told Dom one evening after Kel had retired early for bed. The other men turned to listen to the Crowned Prince as well. "Shinko was a bear for craving foods we didn't have and she would raise havoc if we didn't find a way to get them. Of course by the time I could get things shipped in, she had moved on to a new craving." He sighed. "Kel's just so easy going and as far as I can tell, the only sign she's pregnant is the growing belly."
"She has cravings," Dom admitted. There had been nights where they had been lying in bed cuddling close and talking where Kel had admitted she wanted things that they just didn't have access to. She wasn't upset by not getting those things and had she expressed any true disappointment, Dom would have tried to find a way to get a hold of something. Neal had curbed one big craving with his large stash of green tea powder. "Yamani foods we can't get or fruits that we don't have stored over the winter months. And in the rare case, sweets."
"Why didn't you let me know? I could have brought some of those kinds of things with me from the South," Roald pressed.
"Kel knows I would have gone to the ends of the earth if she wanted something bad enough." Dom felt himself blush a little.
"Kel doesn't like having people go out of their way for her even if she is toting around another life," Neal informed everyone.
"I'm taking note for the next one," Dom said as he stood up. "So I can have everything on hand as soon as I know she's craving anything. We were just not in a good position with trying to get the castle built and getting established here this year. And especially with winter being the biggest part of her pregnancy. But I should be going to bed. With Kel due any day I should get rest when I can."
Dom retreated then, feeling a bit low. It had not really been an ideal time for Kel to get pregnant for her sake. They were a bit cut off in the North and with winter cutting off most trade and travel they hadn't been able to get supplies like food imports from the south or stock up ahead of time. And yet, Kel had wanted to do this right away and she didn't expect the luxuries due to her status. Kel deserved more than she expected once again and once again Dom felt he was falling short.
But Kel was waiting for him in bed, still awake and well aware that he was feeling low for some reason. After some prodding she had managed to extract what exactly was bothering him. With a small giggle she caught his attention and brought it back to the present and to her.
"Well, I can tell you what I'm craving right now," she let her eyes flick over his body and he smiled. There was another side effect of her pregnancy that he wasn't too upset with. Her hormones left her wanting him in bed at least once a night if not more than that, and that was something he could certainly give her.
