Note: Just a warning, mentions of rape happening. No gory details.
Sil and La only waited a few days this time, to adjust to the shock of knowing they were going to be parents again. Sil kept on getting sick. Then, they made up their minds to let the others finally know, and went to the Skeksis court. It was going to be right before dinner.
"Fellow Skeksis, and SkekRyuu, I, Chamberlain, and SkekLa have something to tell Skeksis courtiers." Sil began.
"What is going on, Chamberlain?" the Emperor demanded.
"Getting to it, sire. As you know, you ordered for new members be added to our number. I, I not feeling well again. Scientist had look at me, but not find anything. Still early, but with sick things going on with me… hmmm..." Sil went off as he felt a jolt of nausea.
"Chamberlain is saying that he is sure he is having our second baby." the Illustrator finished. "And, SkekRyuu, you are going to be an older sibling."
The others were in shock. They were flabbergasted that the experiment had evidently worked.
"So how long do you think it will last, Scientist?" the Emperor asked.
"I'm still not sure, Emperor. But I have marked when I found out. I will be watching and monitoring the Chamberlain up until the birth this time." Tek stated.
"Yes, Chamberlain. You will do what the Scientist asks, and when he says it this time while you are carrying your baby." SkekSo ordered.
"Yes, sire. Not want to have trouble this time." Sil agreed.
"And you are not to leave the castle whatsoever this time." he ordered next.
"Yes. Agree." Sil replied.
Ryuu was surprised that his parents were having another baby when they still had so much to catch up on as a family, but this was amazing. He had always wondered about his parents and having siblings similar to him growing up. Now he would finally know what that would be like!
"Congratulations, Mom and Dad." Ryuu said with a smile. "I can't believe I'm going to be a big brother."
"So, you not mad?" Sil asked.
"Why should I be mad? I've always wanted some of my own kind to play with." Ryuu smiled.
"Well, these ones will be much younger than you..." La said.
"I know. But I'll still do my best to be a good role model for them." Ryuu stated.
"I not know how many am having. Hope just one. Labor not pleasant." Sil remembered all the pain he had gone through to have Ryuu the first time too.
The General was not too pleased to hear this, that his arch rival was having another baby. It had been hard for him to hear the first time around, and the Emperor had approved it this time. There was going to be another weakling like both La and Sil around! He growled. Then he thought of something. Maybe he could just as well make his own… even as much as he hated the Chamberlain.
For all he knew, the Chamberlain could be still 'in heat'. Ung had heard the term before and knew what it meant. He managed to get nearer to Sil, and he smelled him. His scent was a little different. It was a bit of a turn on. He thought here might be a chance he could add in his own genes to the mix. He wanted to create some stronger baby than the one that SkekLa had 'fathered.' Some young ones who were interested in the fighting sense later in life.
The General would see to it, add his genes to the mix, to make some stronger Skeksis in the next generation. But it would need to be soon. He had a feeling that SkekSil's heat was going to come to an end soon. And it was possible that his genes could still be rejected, now that Sil was already expecting. But he wouldn't miss his chance to take Sil down a peg, either.
…
In the following days, even though Chamberlain would be at the Crystal ceremony every morning, he would end up being sick every morning as well. Before and after breakfast, lunch and dinner. He forced himself to eat at times. Skeksis hunger was usually quite strong, and now that he could feel that he had new life living within his body, Sil was trying to maintain that life.
La tried to be there for him as much as she could, and felt really sorry for him, seeing how he had to go through the toughest part of the pregnancy. It would still be awhile before there was more solid proof of pregnancy, to know that it was there for sure, but Sil was an otherwise healthy Skeksis most of the time. Now, morning sickness was taking a toll on him. Even the energy he got from the morning ceremony drained his energy every day.
Ryuu had no idea that pregnancy was so hard on someone. His dad tried to be there for him, but by afternoon, he always had to rest himself.
Under the Emperor's decree, because of him wanting this test pregnancy to play out, Sil was to get whatever he felt he wanted and needed. The others hated catering to his demands, but it was ordered.
The Scientist had to give the anti-nausea herbs at least twice a day. He tried to examine Sil every few days. All the pressing and such made Sil start to be more protective over his stomach.
Others would try to get a glance at his belly, but he would try to shield it from them. This was going to be a long pregnancy.
The General was seeing his rival's sickness symptoms too. It was making the Chamberlain avoid eating at times, particularly in the evening. Maybe this was the time to try his luck. He would get rid of the first baby and get his in place, or so he wanted; SkekUng was determined to add in his offspring.
…
One night, on a way to do a task from the Historian, Sil was just taking some reports to the Emperor for the night that had been forgotten earlier. When he was going through a lonely hallway in the lower corridor, the General appeared like out of nowhere, and cornered him.
"There you are, Chamberlain." Ung said smugly.
"General, what you want? I have to get reports to Emperor." Sil said.
"The Emperor is foolish to think that you are to not have my offspring instead of those from that weakling of your mate! Before your time draws to a close of being able to get more possible offspring, I'm gonna close that gap, right now!" Ung exclaimed.
Sil's eyes widened. "What?! No! Leave me alone, General!" He began backing up. But the way his rival was stalking him, he didn't like it.
"Chamberlain already pregnant! Can't carry any more, General! If you hurt Chamberlain, the Emperor will punish!..." Sil warned him.
"I will give you much stronger babies! It will be better for everyone!" Ung exclaimed.
Sil ended up dropping the scrolls as he turned to run, but Ung cornered him again, and pulled him down into the catacombs.
"NO! Let me go! I not let his happen! Emperor will have your head if you do this! No!" Sil screamed.
"You don't have a choice! And the Emperor will not know, you better keep your beak shut about this, or I could do much worse!" Ung threatened him. He pushed Sil violently to the floor, knocking the wind out of him.
Once Ung saw that his rival was down and winded, judging by his panting, he began to do what he wanted. He moved Sil's lower robes out of the way. Sil tried his hardest to fight back, but he was just slapped in the face, getting knocked back down.
"No! Please not do this, General! Please! Stop!" Sil pleaded, shakily.
Ung was too hormone crazed by his scent, he didn't reply, or care. He was aroused too much by now. He forced himself upon Sil.
Sil cried out in pain when his dignity was sabotaged as Ung took him forcefully. But they were in a deep cavern where no one but his attacker could hear him scream.
…..
By the time the General was done with him, Chamberlain was left solidly in tears and pain.
"Don't you dare tell any of the others about this, you whimpering worm." Ung threatened. "Or I can do much worse another time. You will have my children. They will be the first ones born this time. The best new Skeksis the empire can have!"
Ung left Sil to continue crying. Sil's hormones were making him softer and more delicate during his carrying time, and together with the pain and horror of what had happened to him, he was completely devastated. Ung had loved taking his rival down like this, but he meant what he said about his offspring, too.
Sil's head was a whirlwind of despair, he hated that he now carried seed from his most hated rival of all. He stayed on the floor, hiding his face behind his hands and sobbing. He hoped his body wasn't going to add Ung's hated offspring to the mix. He knew he couldn't be no more than just one cycle of the moons pregnant. He kept crying, and hoped that it was impossible for his body to accept Ung's seed. He knew he was too ashamed to tell anyone what happened. He was also scared that Ung would do it again. After a long while, he got himself together and left the cavern.
He seemed a bit standoffish from the others, even his own mate, following what happened, but Sil continued to be sick from food and all. He was just nauseated too much. When would this end? He did try to wash off the General's scent so he didn't have to keep smelling that hated odor on himself, and also to avoid his own mate or anyone else smelling it on him.
After what he had done, SkekUng was much more tolerant of Sil, and tried to be more 'polite' to him. It wasn't that he cared about him at all, but he wanted to make sure nothing he did would harm the child he imagined he had created with the Chamberlain.
Sil just felt disgusted and angry, and tried to stay away from him. He wanted to tell the Emperor so bad. But the General seemed to be always there, watching him.
…
After a few weeks had passed, Chamberlain was still not quite 'himself,' and his mate noticed most of all. She had wanted to think it could be something about carrying that was making him behave oddly, but after some days, she just had to ask.
"Sil, dear, are you alright? You have been avoiding contact with me and Ryuu sometimes... You even seem a bit more snappy than usual." She was speaking out of concern.
"Nothing wrong, SkekLa. Just hate being sick." Sil replied grumpily.
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"Yes. Leave me alone. Got work to do!" Sil snapped.
La hated seeing him like this. He was dodging something. She saw it. She knew him well enough to know something was wrong with him.
"Please, don't avoid me like this. You know you can tell me anything. I'm here for you when none of the others are. Please, let me help you if I can." La said.
Sil knew she was meaning well. He couldn't help it that tears came to his eyes. He turned to her. "Alright! It's not nothing!... General forced himself on me!" he sobbed. His hormones had gotten him as nervous as to say it, as well as the traumatic experience.
"Did he hit you? Harm you? That brute… He has been cruel to you since the beginning of our rule." La stated, missing the point of Sil's words.
"No! I mean... he... forced mating on me. Now that... it is accepted. He cornered me and did it... Couldn't stop him! Couldn't!" His sobbing worsened.
"He did what?!" Now La could see what had been upsetting her love, and it horrified her. She took Sil into her arms and held him tight, to comfort him the best she could. She couldn't help to cry along with her mate. "Oh, dear Chamberlain! How could he? Why?! He will pay for this. He will pay!" she growled, tightening her protective hug even more "He should not have done that to you." she declared. "The Emperor must know! SkekUng will pay!"
Sil nodded. He was too upset to talk anymore of it at this point. He went on crying between La's arms until he couldn't anymore.
…
As soon as the Chamberlain could compose himself, he and his mate went to the throne room to get this problem resolved. Sil usually would always go behind the backs of others and scheme, but this time, it was about something horrible, unforgiveable that had been done to him and he needed justice for it. He thought bitterly that he could have lost his baby for that too.
The Gourmand was preparing the next meal in the kitchen, so he wouldn't be here for this. Ryuu and the Scroll Keeper were in the library doing some more reading lessons.
Sil and La approached the Emperor together. Sil needed his mate and best supporter with him right now to have the courage to tell their leader what happened. He also eyed his hated rival, the one that had hurt him. The General was busy talking to the Slave Master, not paying attention to him at the moment.
"I'm here. Go on, tell him." La encouraged.
SkekSo caught on to her saying. "Tell me what, SkekSil?... SkekLa?" he demanded.
The other Skeksis turned at that. The Emperor did have a loud voice.
Sil whimpered. "Must tell you of something dreadful happening to me." he said lowly, trying his best to not begin to cry from shame.
"You haven't been acting like your usual energetic self lately. I know the pregnancy troubles you with eating, but what's going on now?" So asked.
"General forced himself on me! Forced mating!" Sil exclaimed, losing all composure.
The General turned to look at him, surprised and furious. The Chamberlain had talked, even if he threatened him not to.
"Is this true, SkekUng?" SkekSo asked.
"Yes!" Ung tried to think fast and find a way to get the Emperor to side with him. "But I only did it because we have enough weakness among us! If he carries my offspring, it'll be for the good of us all, Emperor! My offsprings will be strong fighting Skeksis when they grow up. Not weaklings like those the Chamberlain can crate with the Illustrator! Think about it! I did it for the empire!" the General explained.
"Hmm." The Emperor was thinking on the statement.
SkekUng glared at SkekSil angrily for telling when he wasn't supposed to, but there was also a smug triumphant look on him, he knew he had convinced the Emperor. Sil glared back, baring his teeth at him, even though it wasn't nearly as threatening on him like it was on Ung.
"I think the General has a point, Chamberlain." So spoke up.
Sil turned to his leader, eyes wide, and fighting back tears. "But, Emperor!-" he gasped.
"I decree that it will happen, Chamberlain! If SkekUng could have just happened to give you some stronger offspring, we'll take it!" the Emperor declared.
The General was pleased that the Emperor was agreeing with him. Chamberlain had always been a weakling in his eyes, and he knew many others thought that way about him too. The only thing two weaklings like SkekSil and SkekLa could create together would be more weakness, and he was convinced that he had done the right thing to humiliate his rival and try to make him useful by making him carry his strong offspring.
"Emperor, I think the Chamberlain has a chance at getting my offspring now, before time runs out for him to get impregnated again." Ung said.
"That could be true." the Scientist spoke up. "But we don't know for sure... This is the first time something like this is being pursued."
"I'm not accepting any forced matings on me!" Sil exclaimed at the verge of tears, backing down towards La, who moved a bit to the front to shield him behind her body. "If it was any of you, you not like it either, especially from one of the most ruthless ones here! Doing it to hurt you!"
"Sire, please!..." said La, angry and indignant about the Emperor's statement.
"Silence! This is how this will be solved! General, now that you have done your part, there will be no further forced mating on the Chamberlain. We have to let this play out as it is. We can't risk any rough treatment to possibly kill any of the babies he carries. We must wait, and see what happens in the end!" So decreed.
"Yes, Emperor." General agreed. He meant it. Of course, he was satisfied with his results.
Sil and La were shocked, horrified that the Emperor had decided that, and Ung was totally getting off the hook. Something so horrible done by a Skeksis to another demanded serious punishment!
"Why is he not getting punishment?! He did something terrible to SkekSil! Something unforgivable! He sure suffered terrible pain, and could be badly hurt, worse than we realize!" La protested.
"Because the General made a good point, Illustrator! I do want some more stronger Skeksis in the court, and the General is a good one to give them to us! If not, then it'll have to be done next time. If it is so difficult for the Chamberlain, perhaps a different one will carry next time. But now, he will deal with it." the Emperor declared.
"I will not carry his babies! Ever!" Sil exclaimed, tears rolling down his beak as he angrily tried to wipe them with his sleeves.
"If it's been done already, Chamberlain, you don't have a choice." Zok stated coldly.
Sil hated that the others were siding with his rival for this. But Zok was right. He didn't have a choice at this point. It had already been a few weeks since Ung's forced mating of him. He felt terrified about his pregnancy now. Was it possible he had conceived at least one child of SkekUng?
Only the birth of the babies would reveal the truth. And that wouldn't be for some time yet.
"This matter is resolved. Just deal with it, Chamberlain! The General is doing you a favor!" the Emperor stated.
Sil and La walked out of the throne room without saying anything else. They were furious, offended, and very disappointed that their leader wasn't punishing Ung for something so evil as what he had done to Sil. It had hurt the Chamberlain's body, damaged his nerves, and his mind. How could something like that go unpunished, and even be approved?
But it was too late now. Sil could only hope that he wasn't carrying an evil offspring of his hated rival inside him, and all La could do was try to comfort him.
The two of them could only go about their business, do their best to calm down, and see what happened in the future.