AN: I know I've taken forever to update.  Sorry.  Anyone want to write my senior thesis for me?  No?  Well, I'll try and keep writing anyways, and not make the gaps between the chapters too long.  I'll also be reorganizing the story soon - condensing the early chpters.  So don't freak out if the story suddenly shrinks from twenty-two chapters to then - I'm not deleting anything.  Okay, I think that's enough jabber. 

Over a week had passed since Jill's confrontation with Eustace, and she was feeling extremely guilty about it. Neither of them had spoken to each other since it happened, and Rilian was hiding with his advisors most days to avoid being caught in the middle. Still, Jill knew she had to do something. It wasn't just Eustace – although she had to admit what he had said that afternoon had really gotten to her – but she knew she and Rilian were wrong in sending Adelaide away. Jill didn't really know what to do. The baby was due in three weeks and Rilian was getting incredibly protective of her. She hadn't been able to attend any of the meetings with the advisors anymore, and was left pretty much out of the loop.

She knew her only chance was to talk to Rilian alone, and try and explain what she saw. It might not work, but she had to try. It wasn't going to be easy. Eight months pregnant, she wasn't having an easy time getting around – and even Eustace had said she shouldn't be going up and down any stairs (before he quit speaking to her).

So that afternoon she wobbled down to Rilian's study and didn't think twice about entering unannounced. The five advisors all stared in amazement at the presumption, and Rilian didn't know what to think. She had never interrupted their meetings once in four years. The advisors managed to get on their feet.

"Your Majesty," one of them said.

Rilian still stared, as he spoke. "Are you alright?"

"I'm perfectly well. And, I'm sorry to interrupt, my Lords, but I do need to speak to the king alone for a moment."

"Your Majesty, we are in the middle of a meeting."

"I'm aware of that. I'm also aware that you've been in the middle of a meeting for the past week and haven't gotten anywhere." She stopped when she realized what she'd just said. The advisors all stared in shock. "Excuse me," she softened her voice. "I want to see my husband for a moment. Don't worry, I'll return him to you." She didn't wait for Rilian to answer, but stepped outside and waited. Rilian mumbled something about her being rather excitable recently, then joined her.

"Alright, what in the world was that about?"

"I needed to talk to you."

"So I gathered. And what are you doing down here – you know you're not supposed to be wandering around the castle in your condition." Jill couldn't help smiling at her husband's concern. He really could be sweet sometimes.

"I'm alright," she said as she led him into the courtyard. "I just had to speak to you about the Lone Islands – and the Lady Adelaide."

"Oh no. Not again, Jill. Has Eustace been on you about them?"

"No. But I've been stuck upstairs thinking for days, and I do believe he's right."

"Jill, I don't want to discuss this anymore. Alright, we're all in agreement, the Lady Adelaide has set sail and we shouldn't even bother to humor her by considering her proposals. We'll send a messenger with some sort of report to give to the Duke himself. We do not negotiate with his daughter."

"You better if you want to avoid losing the islands completely." Jill sat down – slowly – and Rilian helped her. She knew she had a good weapon in Rilian's willingness to humor her while she was this fragile. So, like a good wife, she manipulated it shamelessly till he gave her his full attention.

"Rilian, listen to me. Eustace – he and I – well in the country we came from, England, well we once ruled a land for hundreds of years. It was a British colony. But we didn't let them have a say in their taxes or in parliament – that's our government – and because of it they had the Boston Tea Party."

"A tea party," Rilian looked at her as though she'd lost her mind. "Darling, are you feeling alright? You want to go lie down?"

"No! It wasn't a party. It was an act of rebellion. It eventually led to an all out revolution. Of course we never thought they'd stand a chance – our army was the best in the world. But they won. They became an independent nation and are now the most powerful in the world. We lost them because we wouldn't listen to their objections to our way of ruling them."

Rilian didn't say anything.