Evil Spawns:

A/N: Gasp! I finally uploaded another chapter :D Enjoy!


Trudging to the Mess Hall, I grabbed only the lightest items before going to the table in the back and plopping myself into a seat.

I swear, I'm never going to get married, I thought to myself.

Not paying attention to those around me, I continued to pick and prod at my food. The whole day was devoted to wedding plans and making a very long list of frills and lace that didn't seem to be necessary. I don't know how much more I can take before I crack and go run naked throughout the palace. I smiled wirily at the look that Ironheart might have but shuddered and thought better of it when I realized how many people would see the whole display.

Whoever is going to be my husband had better like the idea of eloping.

Disturbed by my own thoughts of marriage, I shuddered again but Faleron must've thought I was cold because he asked me if I was. Shaking my head 'no' I mentally slapped myself at such a notion...although maybe eloping isn't such a bad idea. Pondering the idea to myself, I felt something awfully funny in the pit of my stomach. Thinking that I was just hungry, I ate a bit more but the feeling didn't go away. Frowning to myself, I thought that I was thirsty so I took a drink from my cup. I frowned a bit more when the solution presented itself.

"If you frown anymore, those lines will become permanent," Merric joked.

"Well thank you genius," I answered acidly.

Feeling Kel nudge me on my other side, I scowled at her but she only pointed to Merric. I turned to see him hanging his head, staring intently at his food.

"Sorry, Merric. I'm just frustrated," I muttered into my food trying to choke the blush back down.

I sneaked a glance to see him smile at me before giving my unoccupied hand a slight squeeze in understanding. My awful feeling multiplied by three-folds as I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment. I don't think I can handle this kind of romance...oh gods, now I'm calling it a romance. Resisting the urge to bang my head, I smiled back and would've withdrawn my hand if he hadn't used those damn eyes of his. Curse him for using puppy-dog eyes!

Oh Goddess, I've turned to mush! I screamed in my thoughts.

With my spoon in my right, I took my left away from his hand and picked up the cup. Putting the utensil and cup down, I picked up my tray and almost jumped for joy when I saw Merric's food-filled tray. Telling them that I needed rest, I walked away without seeming to run and bolted towards my room the minute I got out the door.

vvvvvvvv

Collapsing on my bed, I sighed with relief before curling up under the sheets still in my dress. Bringing my left hand up, it still felt warm from when Merric was holding it. Groaning with frustration, I dropped my hand and buried myself even deeper into the folds as my stomach gave off a light flutter. Hearing the door open and Yuki calling out my name, I gave a frustrated sigh as I heard two pair of feet coming my way.

"What do you want?" I asked under the sheets.

"What is wrong with you?" Kel asked in a scolding tone.

"Nothing mother."

Feeling the bed give way under the weight, I peeked out to see Yuki perched at the bottom of my bed. Looking by my nightstand, Kel had pulled up a chair and settled into it. I could feel their gazes boring into me but I refused to tell them what was wrong.

"Did Merric do something stupid again?" Kel accused.

"What? No!"

"Then what's wrong?" Yuki questioned.

Sitting up, "What's wrong? I'm what's wrong!"

They both seemed shock at my outburst before looking at me with confused glances. Pulling at my hair, I gave another frustrated sigh before flopping back onto the bed.

"I'm what's wrong," I reiterated.

"But why?" Kel asked.

"Because I'm not myself anymore."

"What do you mean you're not yourself?" Yuki inquired.

"I'm...I feel different and I hate it."

"Oh for Mithros' sake just tell us what's wrong already!" Kel yelled.

"I've become a court lady!" I yelled with fear.

"Huh?" Yuki and Kel asked in unison.

"Oh gods! I feel like a court lady and I don't like it!"

"Whoa calm down, you're not making any sense," Kel said.

"You like him a lot don't you?" Yuki asked calmly with a smile.

Oh gods how I hate it when she smiles like that, I thought to myself as I sat up.

"What do you mean?" I asked, a bit afraid of what she's going to say.

"Merric. You like him a lot don't you?" Yuki asked again.

"Well, of course she likes him. Why else would she let him take her to the Ball next week?" Kel answered for me.

"Yeah what she said."

Yuki only shook her head and laughed a bit before placing her hand over mine.

"I mean you might love him."


"I think you might've killed her," Kel told Yuki.

"Oh, I did not," Yuki countered while getting up and patting Eri's cheeks.

"You just had to say that didn't you?"

"What? She asked what I meant and I told her. I didn't know she was going to faint."

"This is Eri we're talking about here, not someone else."

Yuki sighed before sitting down again, "You're right. If this was you, you would've just killed me."

"What's that suppose to mean?" Kel growled.

"It means what I said. By the way, how are you and Eric anyways?"

"Don't change the subject but if you want to know we're fine."

"Good to hear. But just so you know since Eri isn't waking up anytime soon-"

"Don't even think about it."

"Why not?"

"Because."

"Because why?"

"Because because."

"Come now, Kel. It's not like I'm going to go tell everyone else about it...well I'll tell Shinko of course and Eri when she wakes up."

"You forgot Neal," Kel spat.

"No, not Neal. Although, now that I think about it, he is your best friend so you should tell him."

"I'll tell him when we're married and have ki-"

Yuki's head shot up to see Kel's eye widen at what she had just thought out loud. Smiling a bit to herself, Yuki stared intently at Kel while she stared intently at Eri red in the face. Kel didn't really know what she was thinking when she said it but it's not like she hasn't thought about it. Eric is a wonderful person but to be married? Is that even possible for her? It's not like Eric can't get married but more along the lines of if she can. She patrols with the King's Own most of the time now and wasn't sure if this courting would last long. There is a possibility that Eric would get tired of her traveling so often that he might just end it.

"He wouldn't do that you know," Yuki said, breaking Kel's train of thought.

"What?"

"You were looking awfully pale but if it's what I think it is, then he's not like that."

"But what if he does get tired of me? Then what?"

"Well, if it ever happens, which I know it won't, then we'll deal with it."

"You don't know that though," Kel muttered.

"But you don't either...besides what are the chances that he'll get tired of you?"

"Hello? Lady knight here. I go missing for days even weeks," Kel pointed out.

"Did you know that since he got back, he's been looking for you?"

"Really?" Kel asked hopefully.

"Of course, although I must admit it's getting to the point where I want to gag his mouth," Yuki sighed.

Kel only laughed out loud heartily both in relief and happiness.

"Honestly, what is it with you and Eri anyways? Love is a beautiful thing and you act as if it's the Black God."

"It might as well be," Kel snorted.

Hearing their friend stir, they turned back towards Eri while Yuki tried to gently rouse her.

Rolling her eyes, "That's not how you do it Yuki. It's like this."

Getting close to Eri's ear, Kel yelled out 'Merric' and laughed wholeheartedly when Eri bolted up and screamed into Yuki's face. Jumping, Yuki fell of the bed and onto the floor as Eri stopped screaming. Turning her head towards Kel to see her still laughing, Eri gave Kel a shove that tipped her backwards but not without taking Eri down with her. The girls were in a mass of fallen bodies, chair, and covers when Eric burst into the room huffing.

"What. Happened?" Eric huffed out.

Hearing only muffled noises, he looked at the mess by the bed before starting to chuckle that slowly turned to laughter. He had heard Eri's scream down the hall and thought that she was in some sort of trouble because it sounded like murder. Going over the mess, he realized that Kel was in there trapped by the chair and someone's leg. He couldn't tell if it was Yuki's or Eri's but proceeded to get Kel out first and looking her over for bruises, forgetting the other two for a moment.

"Are you alright?" Eric asked turning Kel around a few times before she stopped him.

"Yes, yes. I'm fine," Kel said while grabbing his hands from her shoulders.

"And don't worry about us. We're just fine and dandy too," Eri said sarcastically, helping Yuki out of the fray.

"Oh crap I forgot," Eric thought out loud before going over to them.

"You seem to be forgetting a lot things when Kel's around, don't you?" Eri said slyly as Eric stopped with the covers in his arms.

"Eri!" Yuki admonished quietly, pinching Eri for good measure.

"What? It's true though," Eri stated in a whisper.

"I am right here you know," Kel growled.

"Oh we know-"

"Stop embarrassing them already," Yuki scolded again.

"What? And stop my fun? I don't think so."

"At least I don't act like a court lady when Merric's around," Kel slyly inputted.

"I...I-what? I do-that's not true!" Eri sputtered.

Eric regaining his composure, turned a wayward glance at his little sister before placing an arm around her shoulders.

"What's this? Is my boy-sister finally becoming a woman?" Eric teased.

"Oh shut up!" Eri growled darkly before three more people appeared.

"What's wrong? Is everyone alright?" Neal questioned frantically looking around as Esmond and Merric showed up right behind them.

"What the-" Kel started but was interrupted by Esmond.

"We heard a scream and thought someone was getting killed."

Everyone soon turned to look at Eri, who looked like she wanted to die when Merric rushed up to her, misunderstanding the situation.

"Oh gods! Are you okay? You're not hurt are you? What happened? What did they do?" he rambled before taking her into a big hug.

"Merric. I. Can't. Breathe," Eri managed to say before pushing Merric away but he didn't let go.

"Merric. Merric! She's alright," Eric said trying to pry him away before Eri suffocated.

Easing up on the hug, Merric wouldn't completely let go but realize that she was in fact suffocating.

Holding onto her lightly this time, he placed his forehead on Eri's, "You okay?"

"Out," she muttered darkly.

Confused, "Huh?"

"Everyone but Kel and Yuki can leave," she ordered, squirming out of Merric's hold.

Once that was done, she pushed him, Neal, Eric, and Esmond out the door.

"No one is dying. I'm not dying. No one is hurt but Eric will be if he says a peep of what was going on. You want to know what happened then wait until dinner but I swear Eric, if you tell them I will cut out your insides and parade them all around Tortall before burying you six feet under. Are we clear?" Eri spoke harshly and darkly.

Seeing a glint in her eyes, Eric nodded emphatically before seeing the door shut in his face. Turning around, he could see the three young knights looking terrified but sighed and reassured them before walking away. They were close to the Knights' Wing when Eric remembered he had something to tell Eri.

Shit! Eric thought before banging his head on his door, leaving the others to think that the whole family was nuts.