The next two months were a whirlwind of activity. Everyone in Cleo and Magnus's circle had already found out about her pregnancy. Word had even reached Nic, wherever he currently was.
Their stay in Auranos had been extended, but they were finally ready to return to Limeros. There they would make the announcement of Cleo's pregnancy. Her stomach had become swollen, but not so much that a well laid cloak or ruffle couldn't hide. However, Cleo knew that it wouldn't last long.
The journey to Limeros took several days. Most of which Cleo kept her eyes closed to avoid the nausea. While the morning sickness had started to subside, general nausea was arising slowly. It was then she decided she would only allow one more trip to Auranos before their son arrived; if she could even manage that.
The carriage came to a stop and Cleo opened her eyes to see where she was: back at the palace. She let out a grateful sigh and allowed Magnus to help her out of the carriage and into the palace where a warm dinner had been prepared. Lucia greeted them with Lyssa and Jonas.
"I hope the journey back was pleasant," she greeted.
While she had been in Auranos for a time with her brother, Magnus had sent her back to settle things with the court. He could never leave for too long it seemed.
"As pleasant as you can get while with child," Cleo said with a sigh as she offered Lucia a tired smile.
"She has developed motion sickness it seems," Magnus clarified.
Cleo rolled her eyes and began to walk towards the dining room, the rest in tow. Dinner went quickly seeing as no one was terribly hungry. Cleo would have much preferred to have crawled into a comfortable bed and sleep until late tomorrow.
Which she did following dinner. Satisfied just to lay there, she watched as Magnus got undressed and stood at the end of the bed.
"Has anyone told you how beautiful you are?" he asked as he walked around to her side of the bed.
She smiled and rolled so she laid on her back, her head tilted to see Magnus as he kneeled by her side, moving his hand to rest over her stomach.
"We will get through this," Cleo said as she rested her hand over his. "We just have to stay strong and together, alright."
Magnus nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. They were doomed to fail, but maybe Valia telling them they were to have a child was a blessing. They had time; time to prepare for the birth.
"We will be ready, and I will do everything to keep you safe. I would rather have no heir and you by my side."
Cleo sighed heavily. "Don't say things like that. We will both survive." She used her other hand to run it through Magnus's dark hair. "We can keep Lucia close. If anything is to happen her earth magic will be helpful."
"I will speak to her tomorrow on the matter, but you must also stay safe. Even now, I don't want you too stressed. Both of our mothers had difficulties regardless of a curse, and I will not have the same fate befall us, befall you."
He rested his head against the bed as Cleo continued to rub his scalp. Before she could go too far he stood and walked to his side to lay down. He had no intention of falling asleep on the floor next to him, though he would gladly do so if his wife requested him to.
Laying down on the bed, he rested his head near Cleo's stomach. The child is still too small to feel just yet, but in o
