Arya locked the door and set both her backpack and the small duffle bag she had her clothes in down on the floor. She then shrugged her cloak off of her shoulders and let it fall to her feet. She bent and picked it up, despising the mess it would make the room, not that it was dirty, it was just something on the ground and she didn't like that. She hung it over a chair that was tucked into a writing desk then scanned the room.

There weren't many decorations or anything of the sort to liven the room with. Windows lined the back wall and a large bed sat under them, allowing light to drift through the room. A dresser sat against the wall across from the footboard.

Arya sighed and made a beeline for the bathroom. It's been too long since she's had a proper bath and bathing in a river is not what she considers proper. She washed her clothes like that too, but now gives her the chance to be completely clean.

She tugged at the buttons that lined the asymmetrical flap on her padded shirt and tossed it through the door before unlacing her trousers. The moment the door was closed, she let her trousers fall to the floor and she walked over to the tub to run the water. The taps worked the same way as they did at home in Ellesméra and she adjusted the temperature, then pulled the rest of her clothing off. She hissed in pain when she pulled the cloth from around her breasts. Starting two days ago, they were unnecessarily tender in her opinion, though upon consulting her book, she found that it's apparently normal.

With a quiet sigh, she let her right hand hold her left breast and she pressed down on the soft surface with her thumb. The same sort of tender pain shot through her chest and tickled her collarbone in one of the strangest sensations she's ever experienced. She just groaned lowly to herself and leaned over to shut the water off when the water was getting too high.

Sitting back upright, she gently tested the water with her foot and decided it was cool enough to get in. While she would regularly take much hotter baths, she worried about how the heat would impact her baby. She didn't want to hurt him.

She carefully lowered herself into the tub and exhaled slowly, allowing the air to flow out of her lungs at a peaceful pace. Once her entire body was submerged, she let herself finally relax into the warmth that encompassed and hugged her sore body. She let her eyes close for a moment while she let herself legitimately rest.

Her thoughts prevented complete rest, so she opened her eyes and looked down at herself. While Fírnen was right about her not showing much, she still felt like there was a massive sign attached to her forehead which announced her pregnancy to the world. She's never felt so self-conscious about her own body before. She's never had a reason to be self-conscious: all her life she's had a lithe figure, muscular from travel and swordplay, though also sometimes starved from malnourishment, neglect, stress and war. Now she has a baby on the way who is growing rapidly. She can't say she's fond of the way her body is changing, but she knows it's for her son and as each day passes, she's becoming more okay with that. It's still a process to work through, though.

She brought her hands to her stomach and let them slide over the curve her baby made as he steadily grew within her. She shifted uncomfortably and wiggled into a more comfortable position, sinking into the stone bottom of the tub and hoping that did something to make her not look so… big.

Fírnen always berates her when she thinks of herself this way and he tells her that this opinion is simply not true. She knows that he's right. It's just hard to believe when all she's ever known of herself is, well, thin.

She drew in a deep breath and released it to calm her nerves.

"You're healthy, and that's what matters the most, Juniper." A faint smile played on her lips. She's checked on him almost obsessively over the past few days to reassure herself that he's fine. "You'll be here before any of us know it. You're already almost three months old and…" she hesitated. The next few words she would say don't come unless she means it, and this time, she does. "... a-and I love you. I know it's been hard these past few weeks, but it's getting easier, at least for me it is." Her smile faded and her eyes became sad. "I promise to tell you that I love you every day for the rest of my life because I do and this is scary, but it's worth it. Your grandmother didn't say that a whole lot to me and I don't ever want you to feel like you're unloved because I know what that feels like." Tears pricked her eyes because that's always been a sensitive subject. She wanted, needed, to say it, however. She needed him to know and she needed to hear herself say it.

Her smile slowly returned, and she moved her hands across her abdomen as though to feel for her baby. "Anyways, I wonder what your dad will say when he learns about you. I hope he's happy. I can't exactly kill him if he's not. Maybe I'd just break his fingers or his arm, but I don't think I'll have to do that. He loves his family. I'm sure he'll love you too, just like I do." Her smile was sad this time as she thought about the strain their odd relationship would put on her baby… their baby. Eragon is literally carrying the future of the dragon race on his shoulders, and she's the Queen of Ellesméra as well as the Head Rider of Alagaësia.

She let her head loll back and rest on the sloped edge of the tub. "Juniper… I can't expect you to understand this now and I know you'll resent me and your father, but… he can't come back home. Not to Alagaësia. At least, not yet. He is to help make the dragon race strong again. Duty pulls your father away and I know it's cruel, but I'll make sure we visit him often. We'll scry him often as well because I'd like for you to know his voice, and I'd like you to know him as you grow after you're born. Besides, I like the way his eyes light up with happiness or an idea, regardless of how stupid that idea may be. I don't mean that in a bad way, he's not all that good at making the best decisions, though. I'm sure his eyes will do that with you, too, and you can see what I'm talking about." Her smile brightened at her memories, but they also made her sad, because that chapter of her life has now closed. Things felt simpler when she was only an Elven Ambassador taking care of Alagaësia's first Rider and dragon in over a hundred years. "I'll make sure you know him, though, don't worry."

She didn't want to think about the unknown, however. She didn't want to think about the scenario that involved Eragon reacting badly. The darker part of her mind that understood the way Humans could be. It's why she told him that if his feelings for her remained, she would consider the prospect of growing closer. She hugged her waist just a little bit tighter when her anxieties resurfaced, but she tried to just ignore them and finish up with her bath.

When she realized that she forgot her soap in her bag, all the way in the other room, she sighed and scanned her surroundings just to be sure. Unfortunately, she was out of luck.

Her hands gripped the sides of the tub and she pushed herself up, but she gasped suddenly when pain lanced through her lower abdomen. Her arms instantly gave out and she sank back under the surface. It was growing worse and panic instantly turned her insides to ice. She squirmed as the discomfort grew and built, forcing her to shut her eyes against it as she tried her best to breathe.

Terrified, Arya's trembling hands cradled her belly as she forced herself deep into meditation faster than she's ever done in the past, fueled by her intense worry for her baby. Her mind raced frantically as she searched and searched, and the longer it took made everything worse. Thankfully the pain was beginning to fade and breathing was becoming easier to accomplish. She was able to focus better and suddenly a wave of relief blasted through her when she found that he was okay. The pain had faded completely and when she searched the troubled area, she found that the ligaments which held her womb in place had simply spasmed and cramped up, causing her pain.

Tears dripped from her eyes from both remaining terror as well as overwhelming relief. "You're okay…. You're okay…" she whispered shakily as the liquid continued to trickle down her cheeks. She brought her knees close and she wrapped her trembling arms around her waist. "Don't scare me like that…" she closed her eyes and took the moment to just breathe and calm herself down.

"Are you okay?" Fírnen's voice was gentle yet worried.

"I don't know…" she responded quietly and obviously nervously. She opened her eyes to look around. Everything was the same and the water was growing cold.

"What happened?" His worry calmed, but also lingered.

"My…" she hesitated and tried to remember what happened as the adrenaline began wearing off. "The tendons surrounding Juniper spasmed… that's all."

"Is he alright?"

"Y-yes, I think so. I just checked on him and he's okay…" Arya took another deep breath to keep herself from getting worked up. "F-Fírnen… I thought I was going to lose him…" she admitted quietly. "My mother… she lost four pregnancies before me. What if that's hereditary? I-I don't want to lose him… I love him too much…"

"Arya, your little Juniper is strong. Listen to how his heart never skips a beat and keeps at the same strong rhythm. Watch his hands clench into fists and watch him smile, because he's strong and healthy enough to do so. I don't know how early your mother was when she lost her hatchlings, but I'm sure you're safe, despite what Rhunön and the book said. You're carrying a halfling, he might be developing faster than a full Elfling."

Arya just shook her head. "I don't think it works like that, Fírnen… I'm a full Elf and the one who is carrying him. I think my body will go forth with a twelve-month duration as long as I don't lose him."

"I don't think you'll lose him. If you go into labour a month or three early and give birth to a healthy baby boy, I will say 'I told you so.'" he responded and Arya couldn't help but smile a little bit.

"Fine, but I don't want to talk about labour right now." She sank. That is one of the main reasons she's so afraid.

"Why not? It's a normal part of what has to happen." He asked, pushing her a little bit. He and Eylörís have since tired each other out and now Eila was sitting comfortably within her dragon's embrace, with her back against Eylörís' belly.

"Fírnen…" she sighed and shifted uncomfortably."I've seen too many women die." She closed her eyes. "I don't want to die like that. Let's change the subject now, please."

"You speak as though you're expecting to die."

She didn't want to respond. Her eyes started to water. "I've always prepared for the worst. Dying didn't mean so much to me before, when I had nothing besides duty. Now I have the whole world… I can't leave all of it, I don't want to… not like that."

Fírnen hummed softly. "You'll be okay. If something happens, you have me and my own magic as well as your spellcasters and healers. You'll be okay. I remember you once told me that helpers usually sing to move the process along, and that it's typically painless. Do you plan to not ask for that aid?" His tone was concerned and she could hear it.

That's the question she's been worried about.

"I plan to ask for aid, but I don't want magic helping me. It's… it seems too easy. If I am to be a parent, I'd like to know I went through what all other races need to go through."

"Arya, you've read in your book that Elves have the hardest time with pregnancy and especially birth out of the four races. It's not wise to refuse the standard birthing ways of your people." He said pointedly.

Arya groaned. "Don't call it that and it's not like I'm refusing help entirely. I-if something happens or goes wrong, I would like help because I don't want to die from it. I-I just want to know that I at least attempted a completely natural… labour process." She sighed. "I won't feel qualified to be a parent if I don't." She mumbled to herself.

"Fair enough, but at the first sign of an issue, I will not hesitate to intervene." He responded, sounding more relaxed.

"Nor would I want you to hesitate. I just have to make it to the end of my duration… that's all."

"You will, Arya. Your Juniper is strong, like I said before. Try not to dwell on it for now. Try to enjoy your bath. I'm going to try getting Eila to open up. She reminds me of you in some of her mannerisms that I've observed so far. We should get along nicely if that continues to be the case."

"Don't replace me." She responded, sounding a little bit melancholy.

"I wouldn't even think of it." He responded, and with that, his mind drew away from hers.

Now alone in the quiet bathroom, Arya just sighed and very carefully removed herself from the tub, just in case her insides decided to disagree again. Once out, she strode into her room, naked and dripping wet, to fetch her soap. Once the desired object was retrieved, she headed back into the bathroom where she slid into the now cooled water. Without a single straying thought, she bathed and got clean with a dutiful efficiency set by muscle memory alone.

Once she was finished and rinsed off, she got out again and dried herself off with a towel that was already in the room. By it's scent, it had just recently been changed, most likely in anticipation for her arrival.

Wrapping her body in the soft cloth and no longer dripping wet, she wandered back out into the main living space to find her clothes. She had packed her own duffle bag of appropriate attire for court. Now that she was Queen, she was expected to wear fancier clothing when visiting neighboring kingdoms. She refused to give up tunics, shirts, vests and trousers, however, and had new ones designed to fit the requirements while also being comfortable. She could fight in them if necessary as well. Fírnen called that paranoia, she called it being prepared.

She lifted the bag and carried it to the bed, then set it down before allowing her towel to slide from her body. Seeing movement in the corner of her eye, she looked to her left and almost jumped when she saw herself. She hadn't noticed the mirror and for a moment didn't recognize herself. Once her mind calmed, she realized it was only her reflection. Then her eyes traveled downwards to her baby bump.

Arya straightened and walked over to the mirror, viewing herself from the front.

Her hips had changed slightly, but completely unnoticeable to a Human. While she knew she was rather narrow-hipped, she could see evidence of the toll the pregnancy was taking on her body. They had widened slightly to compensate and they should continue to do so. If they didn't, she knew giving birth would be hard. Elves are a naturally narrow-hipped race of people, which contributes to their difficulties when faced with the birthing process. That paired with their enhanced strengths, a child could be… pushed out faster, which left room for umbilical cord strangulation during the second stage of birth. Placental abruption during the first stage and into the second stage could also happen, which occurs when the placenta is ripped from the inner lining of the uterus. If that happens, there's a good chance she'd bleed to death if it wasn't dealt with soon enough. The placenta is responsible for delivering oxygen and nutrients to her baby, who is tethered to it by the umbilical cord.

Arya cringed and shook her head, then tried getting those images out of her mind. That book is terrifying. It's enough to give the bravest warriors nightmares, and it gave insight into a horrible, pain-filled way to die.

To distract herself, she forced her eyes to her breasts again, only to find that they too had changed. While she has always been rather… small, she's come to the realization that she was no longer lacking in that area. Once again, she reached up to gently hold one of her swollen and tender breasts, which now sat heavily in her palm. This development is less terrifying and much less life-threatening, as it simply is her body's preparation to provide sustenance to her baby once he's born. Why did it have to be so painful, though? She's accidentally bound her chest a little bit too tightly on more than one occasion, which led to a pain similar to aggressively stumping a toe on a jagged wooden surface. She hates to admit that it has caused some level of minor emotional response because, well… it hurt.

Her eyes dropped to her abdomen as she had decided to stop stalling and see how wrong Fírnen was. She turned to her side and released a breath along with a low groan. "'Not showing much' my ass." She grumbled irritatedly. While she was showing considerably less than what was predicted by her book, it let her know that the baby's development would be the equivalent to a Human pregnancy that had reached fourteen weeks into their standard duration. It also listed that a Dwarven and an Urgralian pregnancy would be at seventeen weeks should those races fall in line with the development of her own pregnancy.

Compared to a human, she should look fourteen weeks pregnant, but because of her athletic build, she was smaller. Unfortunately, though, it was still getting difficult to hide while wearing her usual attire, which is quite unforgiving.

Would it be so bad if people knew?

Yes, actually, it would be bad. She would have a target on her back for those who wished to do her harm. Rumors would spread, the news would surely reach Eragon, her baby's life would be in danger… yes, it would be bad.

Arya shifted uncomfortably and just frowned very deeply with a long sigh. It'll be hard to hide for sure, but she needs to try.

With that said, Arya opened her duffle bag and picked through the clothing she brought. Her final choice consisted of a green tunic and brown canvas trousers that were both on the looser side.

She carefully wrapped her chest and continued getting dressed. She donned her trousers, which felt tighter, even when the laces were loosened significantly. In truth, she didn't need to loosen them as much as she did, she was just paranoid about hurting her baby.

She pulled her green tunic over her head and then adjusted it so it didn't show her physical changes as much as anything else did. She then pulled a vest the color of her trousers from her bag and donned that too. She didn't fasten it because it created a barrier that helped hide her appearance better than the tunic did alone.

With another heavy sigh and one last look at her appearance, Arya stepped away and removed the bag from the bed. She told Eila two hours, she intends to use those two hours to full use.

She let her body lay limply on the bed. She closed her eyes and the moment she did so, dreams replaced the blackness as her exhaustion pulled her under.

A/N: Hey! This chapter might be a little boring, but I ended up rewriting it multiple times within the last three days and this is what I have and I want to move on. I hope you enjoyed it though, sorry for the kinda disturbing facts I gave, but they're necessary. If you're curious about what Arya looks like in terms of how progressed she is, I would suggest googling it for fourteen weeks. Love you guys!

-Lady Arlo