Author's Note: Alright, so until we get back to Alanna being in the palace, dates might be slightly off, because in Woman Who Rides Like A Man and the beginning of Lioness Rampant, Alanna is away from the palace, and I am staying at the palace. So please, bear with me!

Chapter Forty-One: Pregnancy and Adoption

(Aly's POV)

Gareth and I had been married for a little over two months, and it was now early March. We had been back at the palace for about a month, and life had settled down to how it would be until Gareth retired as training master. He was probably doing something with the pages, and what was I doing? Sitting in bed and going crazy.

For the past month and a half, I had been feeling sick for a while, and then I'd feel fine, and I would get nauseous at the sight of food some days, but then I'd be able to eat the same thing a few days later and be fine. Only about a third of my meals managed to stay in my stomach. I was convinced that it was just the flu, and I'd be moving around in no time if Gareth would stop fussing over me like a mother hen. I know he means well, but it is very irritating when I am so much like Alanna. I don't like lying around with nothing to do. My being ill was one of the reasons we didn't remain at Naxen long. Duke Baird was Chief Healer because he was the best, and Gareth wanted me to have the best care. However, I had yet to see Barid because I was being stubborn. Baird had enough work to do what with Lianne constantly being seriously ill that he didn't need to be bothered by a simple flu.

Just then, I heard a door open and shut in the front room to the suit. A minute later, Gareth walked into the bedroom and sat on the bed next to me.

"How are you feeling?" He asked, gently stroking my face.

"I feel fine now," I said, "Like I told you this morning, this thing will just pass by if a certain husband of mine wouldn't fuss over me all day. With Lianne being sick all the time, too much worrying will only give you a heart attack or stroke."

"I am fine," Gareth said. "You are the one who is sick."

"It's flu season, Gary."

"This isn't the flu, and you and I both know it." Gareth said, "Which is why I went by the infirmary a few minutes ago."

"What?" I asked, slightly annoyed.

"I asked Baird to come by and see what is wrong."

"Nothing is wrong," I said, "It's a simple flu."

"Well then, this visit will simply be a way to calm Gareth's nerves, Alianne."

Gareth and I looked up to see Duke Baird walk in.

"Thank you for coming, Baird." Gareth said.

"I am sorry my husband is pulling you away from your busy schedule for something so trivial as a flu, Baird." I said, looking over at Gareth with a look of annoyance on my face.

"I wasn't busy," Baird assured me, "And there is nothing trivial about any kind of illness, so, I'll just take a look and see what is going on."

I nodded and leaned up against Gareth, completely exhausted. Whatever illness I was fighting had left me with little energy and since I couldn't keep things I ate down, I kept waking up in the middle of the night starving.

Baird rested his hand on my forehead, and I felt his magic travel through my body. A few minutes later, I felt his magic leave me.

"Well, Alianne, you do not have the flu-" Baird said.

"I told you," Gareth interrupted, looking at me, then he turned back to Baird. "What's wrong, Baird?"

"Nothing," Baird said, "Congratulations, Gareth and Alianne. You two are going to have a baby."

I sat up quickly, now wide awake. "Excuse me?"

"You aren't sick at all, Alianne," Baird said, "You are pregnant."

"Pregnant?" Gareth and I asked together, in shock.

"That's right," Baird said, "I'd say you are about two months along, give or take a week."

"But...that would almost mean that we conceived on our wedding night," I said, thinking about that night. It was possible….but….pregnant? I had two fully grown children!

"We weren't even trying to have children." Gareth said, his tone was one of awe.

"It seems the Great Mother wished for the two of you to have a child together." Baird said.

"So...I'm really pregnant?" I asked.

"Yes, you are really pregnant." Baird said.

"And she and the baby are both fine?" Gareth asked.

"Both are healthy," Baird said, "Aly, I have some tea in the infirmary that will help with the morning sickness, if you'd like me to go get it."

"That would be wonderful." I said, relief clearly showing on my face.

"I'll come with you, Baird, and bring the tea back." Gareth said.

"Thank you, Gary." I said as Gareth handed me a steaming cup of the tea Baird had given him.

"Baird says to drink one cup of this with breakfast each morning." Gareth said, sitting down next to me. He brushed some hair out of my eyes.

"Gareth...are you happy?" I asked, "About the baby?"

Gareth looked at me carefully, "Aly, I told you back when King Jasson ordered you to marry Alan that I wanted to be the father of your children. Why should I feel otherwise now?"

"Well...we're older," I said, "You've already raised one child, single-handed."

"To answer your question," Gareth said, "No, I am not happy about the baby."

Aly looked down, but Gareth forced her to look at him in the eyes. "I am thrilled about this child, Aly. 'Happy' doesn't even begin to describe my feelings." Gareth kissed me. He rested a hand on my abdomen. "How do you feel about this?"

"Oh, well…" I was about to say something, then stopped for a minute before saying, "I am happy."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing." I said.

"You hesitated," Gareth said, "You do want more children, don't you?"

"Yes." I said.

"But…?" Gareth prompted.

I sighed, "I'm scared…about the labor."

"Why?" Gareth asked, "You've already delivered two children; the first Lady Knight in 200 years and the youngest Master in history…it seems you have a talent for giving birth to people who will go down in history."

"I nearly died after giving birth to Thom and Alanna." I said. "Maude and Alan were able to get me stabilized, but that took hours, and then I was unable to leave my bed for over two months."

"That doesn't mean that it will happen again." Gareth said. "That could have been a one-time thing."

"But I'm older now, Gareth," I said, "My chances of complications are higher, and my chances of surviving a complication are lower."

"Aly, I will have Baird visit every day to make sure nothing happens if I must." Gareth said, "I promise you, you will not die in child labor. I won't let it happen. I've waited twenty years for you to be my wife. I'm not going to let you go so easily."

I smiled, "I love you, Gareth."

"I love you too." Gareth said and kissed me, "Now, get some rest."

I made a face. "I've done nothing but rest all day today and for the past month and a half."

"Then you have plenty of practice in it." Gareth teased. I stuck my tongue out at him. He smiled. "I'm going to go see how Lianne is doing. Shall I tell them our great news, or do you want us to tell them together?"

"You can tell them." I said, "And then you can tell them I am resting up for our son or daughter's delivery."

"I just hope that we are having a son."

I looked at him confused, "You don't want a daughter?"

"I would love a daughter," Gareth said, "But you remember how much Lianne always wanted a little girl. If she can't have a daughter, she'll settle for a niece, and she will keep kidnapping her, so we'll never spend any time with our own child."

I laughed and nodded to acknowledge the truth of the statement.

(No POV)

A few weeks later, Coram arrived with a letter for Jonathan, as soon as he had given Jon the letter and package that came with it, Aly dragged him off to tell her about everything that had happened with Alanna before he left. She was shocked to hear that she had been adopted by a Bazhir tribe called the Bloody Hawk. She also told him her news.

Coram bowed, "Congratulations, yer Grace."

"Coram, please," Aly said, "You know I count you among my friends. Can't you call me by my first name?"

"It would not be proper. I was a servant of yours."

"You were a servant of Alanna's and you use her first name." Aly countered.

"Very well, yer-Aly," he said, "Congratulations on your pregnancy."

"Thank you." Aly said, smiling.

Coram left soon after, saying he had to return to the desert before Alanna got herself into too much trouble. Aly and Thom both sent him with letters to give Alanna. Roald and Lianne told Aly and Gareth in private that Jonathan and Myles were going to the desert.

"I wish to propose something to Alanna, but I would like to have both of your approval before." Myles told Gareth and Aly the afternoon before he and Jon were to leave for the desert.

"What is it, Myles?" Gareth asked.

Myles didn't hesitate or stall, "I wish to adopt Alanna and make her my legal heir."

Aly was shocked and was sure that Gareth was as well. "You wish to...adopt Alanna?"

"I know you both are well aware that I have always been very fond of Alanna, even when she was Alan."

Both nodded.

"And I have a slight problem," he continued, "I am not getting any younger; I am unwed and unsociable. It's not likely I'll wed and have children. Alanna has been like a daughter to me-sometimes even like a son." Aly and Gareth both sat quietly and listened to what the old knight said.

"And Thom has inherited Trebond, while Gary gets Naxen. Alanna is the only one who does not have land to call her own through inheritance, except of course, the child yet to come, and of course, I do not mean to try and replace either of you."

Myles stood, waiting for Aly and Gareth's decision. Aly was the first to speak. "Myles, you know that Alanna has thought of you in the light of a father ever since she was a page. She sought advice and comfort from you and went to you for everything. I am sure she has told you things she has not even told me. You are already a father to her, as far as I am concerned. I do not mind. However, Alanna now has a step-father, so I feel this should be his choice."

Myles bowed to Gareth. "As I said, your Grace, I do not wish to replace you."

"Aly is right; Alanna already sees you as a fatherly role, and you are also right in your argument to need an heir, and Alanna having no land to fully claim her own." Gareth said. "I will not feel offended if you wish to adopt her."

"Besides, with Alanna it might take a mother and two fathers to keep her out of trouble." Aly said with a laugh.

Myles and Gareth both grinned at the joke, and Myles bowed to both Aly and Gareth "Well, I should finish packing, since Jonathan and I plan to leave in the morning."

Review Reply

SeekDreamsAndFindHope: No, it is not over. I have more in store for this story.

Trisana Sarrasri: I am glad you liked the last chapter.

xXthenextbookwormXx: Yes, the chapters for WWRLAM are going to be focusing on Aly (and her pregnancy) and palace life, with progress reports of Alanna every once in a while.

raven-anya: Thanks!

iloveredshoes: Thank you!

Elfsquire90: LOL! Sue, I will look at Damen any time...but I have Elena's necklace, so the compelling doesn't work on me.

Anjalit2624: Still plenty more to come...but it is winding down, because I only have nine more chapters and an epilogue.

Soraya the All Speaker: I am not going to tell you if I am keeping Thom and Lianne alive or not....you'll just have to keep reading.

Mistyrious One: Thank you for the review, btw, usually you just say that you liked the chapter, which is why I usually only say thanks or whatever...and yeah, I think you are right, I think it is altar, not alter....I believe the word you were looking for was a homophone...where two words sound alike but have different meanings....it is sad that I didn't notice that when I wrote it, seeing as I am an English major.

LittleMissGiggles'94': Thanks!

spazzysassyangel: Thanks!

Insane Geek: Thanks for reviewing. I am glad you are liking the story.

weilanna: I love when I get readers hooked, so thank you for telling me that. All your questions will be answered in due time....but to get the answers, you need to keep reading.

Cry of the Wolf Child: Thanks!

Emmason Eppes: I am glad you like this, and good question, I hadn't put much thought into it...I think she is still technically of Trebond, because she wasn't born a Naxen, and Gareth didn't adopt her and Thom, he just steps in as the role of a step-father.

AddiCullen: Wow, thank you so much! You don't know how much your review raised by spirits. Really, you made my night with your review. I have read a few stories where I never wanted to stop reading, but I had never placed my work on the same level as those story, so thank you so, so much. Who is your friend? Thank them for telling you to read my story for me.