DISCLAIMER: I dont own anything but the plot and any new characters I wish to introduce and torture. The rest belongs to the great and wonderful Tamora Pierce.

Children: Chapter 1

The First Baby

Keladry of Masabolle sat at Pirates Swoop with her good friend, Alanna the Lioness. Being slightly over eight months pregnant, King Jonathan had forbidden Kel from knights work, and this week the Lioness had invited her to the Swoop. Alanna knew that Kel could use some company, as most of her friends were away from the palace, where she had been staying for a month or so.

Now the two sat discussing politics in the Copper Isles, and the new ambassadors that were to be arriving from the island realm soon. Soon they wore that subject out, and it grew silent.

Alanna broke the silence by saying, 'You know, my daughter, Alianne, just had her first child a few months ago.'

'Really? I don't think I have ever met her,' Kel responded, interested in the conversation for once. She had heard very little about the Lioness's only daughter.

'Well, you've heard that she's in the Copper Isles, right?' Kel nodded. 'Well, she's a good friend of the Queen there. She helped with the rebellion, and now is one of Queen Doves top advisors.'

'Wow. I didn't know that. I would like to meet her. Is she coming with the ambassadors by any chance?'

'I don't know. Possibly. When George and I went with the delegation last year, she mentioned wanting to come back here to visit.'

'Who did you meet in the Isles?' Kel asked, and Alanna told her about the people there, and the fabulous architecture in the capital city.

Later that night

Kel sat in her rooms, reading. They had just had a delicious meal and Kel looked forward to a good nights sleep. All of a sudden, she felt a pang in her lower stomach. She put her book down cautiously and stood. She walked slowly to the door. There it was again. She opened the door and started down the hall. Again. She had reached Alanna's study, where the lady knight had said she would be. She pounded on the door, fright in her eyes. Again. Was there something wrong with the baby? 'Alanna!' she called.

The redhead opened the door and looked at her friend. 'What's up?' she asked.

Kel told her what was happening. Alannas eyes widened. 'Come sit down. I think I know what's wrong.' But this is too early...

Kel came into the study, and took a seat. Alanna examined her with her magic, and confirmed her suspicions. 'Kel, you're going into labor.'

She was put in a room down the hall, where Alanna stayed with her through the night. A messenger was sent to Dom, who was almost a day's ride to the north. Kel knew he probably wouldn't get there in time for the birth, but it was worth hoping for.

Her water broke a little before midnight, and by morning Alanna told her the baby would come soon. At just past ten, Alanna told her to push. After another five minutes, the purple eyed healer handed her a small, pink child wrapped in a blanket. A girl.

'What will you name her?' one of the maids asked, and Kel went through the list of names her and Dom had come up with. Only one seemed to fit. 'Morgan. Morgan of Masabolle.'

'I like that name. It fits her,' Alanna said, taking a seat beside her. 'You should sleep. Dom will be here by tonight, if, and I'm guessing he will, he rides here as fast as he can. See, look, Morgan's already asleep.' Alanna smiled. 'She's got the right idea.'

By this time, Kel too had fallen asleep. She had gotten very little sleep the night before, and now exhaustion had taken over. Alanna smiled, and left to find George.

That evening, Dom came riding up to Pirate's Swoop, just as Alanna had predicted. He was very much pleased with the baby, and held her while she slept. He kissed his wife and thanked Alanna for all the help she had given Kel, and so that was that. Morgan would grow big and strong, like her mother, and three years later Kel became pregnant again.

The Second Baby

(Spring, about two and a half years after Morgans birth)

Kel and Dom sat at Masabolle in Doms study with their two-year-old daughter, Morgan. Dom sat in his favorite chair reading a thin book on the Immortal's war. Kel sat across from him, with a book in her lap, which she looked at. It was about glass making, but she didn't pay attention to the words.

She was trying to figure out just how to tell her young daughter she was going to have another baby. Dom had said that she had better tell the two-year-old. Apparently he didnt know how to tell her either.

Kel might have been able to put it off if she hadn't been leaving tomorrow. She was going with Neal to New Hope, then Mastiff. After that, she planned to go to Corus to visit Criket and Roald. They had just had their third child, and Kel hadn't seen the youngster yet.

Well, I'd better tell her straight out. There's really no other way, she thought. She gazed out the window. The sun was just setting. Morgan's bedtime.

Kel sat her book down on a small table beside the chair and said, 'Time for bed, Morgan.'

The young girl looked up from where she sat on the floor, clutched her rag doll close, and stood. 'Okay.' She walked over to Dom, who gave her a kiss on her cheek. Then she came over to Kel, who stood. They walked down the hall to the nursery, where Kel helped her daughter put her nightgown on.

Once Morgan was tucked in bed, Kel said, 'Now, before I tell you your story, I want to tell you something very important, alright?'

Morgan nodded. Kel smiled. 'Do you remember seeing you little baby cousin last week?' Morgan nodded. 'Well, your going to have a little baby brother or sister just like him soon. That means your going to be a big sister. Would you like that?' Morgan, eyes bright, nodded her little head eagerly. Kel smiled.

'Good. Now, for that story. How about the one about the Ysandir? Here goes. Page Alan and Prince Jon were in the city of Persopolis, the Bazhir's only city. Duke Roger had practically dared Prince Jon to go into the Black City, where legend said ancient beings lived...'

And So It Was

'He's so little. And he's pink!' Morgan exclaimed, looking at her new little brother. 'When can I play with him?' she asked, looking up at her adopted aunt, Alanna.

The red-head smiled, looking down at the daughter of her close friend. 'Not for a little while, or at least not like you're thinking. It'll take a little while before he's big enough to run around with you. I don't think many people can keep up with you, let alone a little baby,' she explained.

Morgan sighed. 'I thought he would be able to play with Selda and me.' She referred to her best friend, Selda of Queenscove, Neal's daughter. Though they were a year apart, they played together whenever they could.

Alanna grinned. 'Maybe in a few years. But for now we'll let him sleep,' she handed the boy back to the nurse in charge of caring for the child, and reached down to take Morgan's hand. 'How about I play with you? I'll teach you a game my brother and I used to play when we were little.'

Morgan came with her, agreeing, but said, 'I'm not little anymore. I'll be three in a month.'