It is tiring me to say this, so just review. Please.

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"The dragon is out to get HER?" demanded Traier angrily, throwing up his hands in frustration. "You KNEW! And yet you did not turn away from such a danger right away?!"

"I love her!" proclaimed Thranduil, restraining himself from pouncing on his advisor. How could the man be so ignorant?

"Love? You LOVE her?! If you cared about your Kingdom you would have left her behind in Rivendell where she belongs! If you cared for your Father and Mother.."

"My parents have nothing to do with my wife!" shouted the angry King, now standing and starting to advance upon Traier. Creiour, one of Thranduil's close friends, grasped the Royal's shoulder.

"Do not begin with violence," he tried to silence the two Elves, but the King pushed his hand away, turning his head to look away so that no one could see his anger, and sadness.

"Quiet, you fool! We were going to tell him before, so what's keeping us from doing so now? Just because we know the Queen is responsible for it??" Traier yelled loudly, finally drawling out Thranduil's attention.

"What has she done," growled the King, more so as a demand than a question, glaring into the eyes of his current enemy. His advisor stuck up his head in a proud, dignified way, almost as if inferring that he was about to speak of something scurrilous.

"You told us the dragon is only after us because of Riania, is that not so?" he sneered.

"It is."

"Those orcs that attacked us, the ones who slaughtered your mother, therefore killing your father, their Majesties, were sent by the Dragon."

* * * * *

"I'm what?!" exclaimed Riania with utter surprise. "How-when-"

"You know how, and only you and His Majesty know when," Laurah explained slyly, winking at her friend and grinning wickedly. But that was not what the Queen had meant.

"No, it's just.. It's such a gift and I.. I am never blessed.."

"Riania!" hissed Laurah, hushing her friend. "You met the man of your dreams! You married him, and became a queen! And now you are with child? How can you say such a lie?!"

"It's just my cousin.. My parents.."

"That is the past," Laurah sympathized. "You have a new life now, you must move on."

"I suppose," agreed Riania quietly, subconsciously resting her hand upon her stomach. "But we're in dark times. That dragon that almost killed Thranduil and I upon our journey here.. He said he'd be back. This is no place for a Royal Elf-child."

"Do not have fear," comforted Laurah soothingly. "Thranduil will let nothing happen to your child, or you. Never."