~~Who is the betrayer? You shall find out! MUWHAHAHAHAHA!! VERY long chapter, I should warn you!

~~~~~

Thranduil's eyes widened it shock and surprise, but then he relaxed peacefully with a smile on his lips.

"Oh, Melamin, that is so wonderful! That is the most precious gift anyone could ever receive!" Riania swallowed hard in nervousness, twining the bed's sheets around her fingers.

"But Thranduil, what about the dragon, and the threat of Mirkwood's safety? The child will not be safe!"

"But I swear on my life I shall protect you, and the child," murmured the King kindly, softly kissing his wife's forehead. "Now, you need to rest. And you'll need plenty of it from now on." He winked friendlily at Riania. "Sleep well, Melamin." The queen suddenly felt very exhausted from the day's worries and her new burden, and immediately fell into a deep, refreshing slumber in the arms of Thranduil.

* * * * *

The next night the two Royals announced their situation, and the entire Kingdom rejoiced happily, proud that an heir would be born. Riania received many blessings from the people, and so she felt a little less ill. 'Oh, how wonderful this is!' she thought giddily. Finally it was time to retire from the evening, and since Thranduil was still with his councilors, she was left alone to walk. But her good friend Laurah, caught up with her midway down the corridor.

"Riania!" she called, jogging clumsily in her long, flowing dress. Riania stopped for her friend where the halls intersected.

"Yes?"

"I was just wondering," began Laurah, a little slyly. "Do you wish to know if your child is a boy or a girl?"

"But that is impossible until they are born," laughed Riania, almost in mockery of her friend's request.

"But I know of a way you can, and wanted to know if you WANTED to find out," continued Laurah. Riania was taken aback, shocked.

"But-but I thought-" she stammered insecurely.

"What you thought is wrong, My Lady," smiled Laurah. "Come, I will perform the test on you." Without waiting for her Queen's answer, the woman strolled down the hallway to her left. Sighing, quickly trying to figure out what she would do, Riania decided to follow Laurah. She was her friend, and she would trust her with her life if ever necessary.

* * * * *

Laurah's bedchambers were dark and gloomy, only lit by a few candles. A strange alter of some sort, it seemed to Riania, was placed in the center of this grim place. Atop the table was a golden goblet, filled with an unknown substance. Laurah approached the queen after retrieving the cup.

"Here," she whispered quietly, a wicked smile playing upon her lips. "All you have to do is drink this, and when I look into your eyes I will be able to tell, whether or not it will be a prince or princess." Laurah offered the goblet to Riania, who took it unsurely.

"Are you sure this is safe?" she questioned doubtfully.

"I would never do anything to hurt my friend," assured Laurah, putting a kind hand on her shoulder. "Let alone my QUEEN." Riania nodded, determined to be brave, and mustered out her courage. Did she even WANT to know now? But she pushed her uneasy thoughts aside and put the container to her lips. Tilting back her head slightly, Riania sipped a mouthful of a very sweet, and yet bitter liquid. Giving the cup back to Laurah, the queen waited. Her friend grinned.

"Do you feel the effect yet?" asked Laurah, still smiling strangely. Suddenly Riania felt as though a jolt of electricity shot through her body, and she stiffened in pain. Then all of her agony receded into her abdomen and she doubled over, gripping her stomach feeling a wretched, deathly sting. She collapsed onto the floor, rolling into a ball, screaming in misery, and feeling as though this would be the end. Then all of her vision clouded in a blinding white light, and then a terrible darkness..

* * * * *

"I told you not to take any actions yet!" boomed the dragon, his voice low and angry. "You disobeyed me."

"But master," she told him. "It is working! Even though you said not to, it is working! Soon the heir will be gone, and she will no longer be able to produce another! It will tear her apart!"

"You disobeyed me," growled the creature again. "Now you shall pay the price.

"But master!" pleaded his servant, a young Elf woman. "Please!" But the dragon only laughed mercilessly before engulfing her in a fiery death..