A/N: Hi guys! Hope you're all doing super. I surprised myself by busting out another chapter but I hope it catches you at a good time. I want to shout out to my reviewers and readers. I appreciate you all heaps and heaps! You're awesome.

There are some Danish and French words and phrases but you're not new to most of them. The ones that are newcomers will be explained in the chapter as usual, but here are a few meaning that I didn't put in there.

To kan spille på dette spil: two can play at that game

Tal til mig: talk to me.

Madolen

It's been a handful of weeks since the sordid passing of my parents, and things are starting to move. As much as there still remains a dark cloud over the whole of Casmont, the storm vies for our attention.

"Jasper says that the farmers just got out of there in the nick of time," Gala strokes the jade coloured scarf that I made for her a while back, Jasper's one in her other hand. "The wind was blinding, the air carried frost, and thunder and lightning made it difficult to guide the horses back down to the mainland."

I frown, leaning against the wall of the kitchen and stroking Fabrice who snoozes on my shoulder. "There were no casualties?"

"Non… not yet at least," Gala sighs as she fills one of the flowered vases with water before setting it down. She come to my side. "I overheard that there are many injuries… some that threaten to kill with time."

"Have they been admitted to the doctor?"

"They have, but there's only so much we can do," Gala frowns with me. "This blasted storm may kill us all if this keeps up."

"Non, I won't let that happen," I declare. "We've already lost too much, and I'll be damned if we lose anymore."

Gala's face brightens with a grin. "I believe you, Madolen. I do."

"Good," I smile. "Thank you, Gala, for sharing this. It'll give us direction regarding what to do next. Hans and I have a meeting with the chief of farming, the chief of physicians and the chief of livestock."

"You called a meeting that fast?"

"After the chaotic show that the storm put on yesterday it seemed only right," I tell. "And given what you've told me, we were right to call it." I thrust myself off of the wall, startling Fabrice out of his slumber. "I should go. I don't want to be late for the very meeting I called."

"We don't want that," Gala smiles. "Good luck, Madolen."

Hans

Madolen enters the Council Area and greets us all with a beam. "I'm not late I hope."

"Nein, actually we were just about to start," says Hannah, a sun kissed, serious eyed woman in her early thirties. Her dark hair is roped back to add to her already solemn demeanour that sets the tone for the day. She stands with arms behind her back at the long side of the table.

"I hear from Gala that the farmers suffered injuries," says Madolen as she sits down next to me at the head of the sleek table.

"I'm afraid so," tells Spencer, the chief physician, across from Hannah. "I've done what I can to make them comfortable, but a slew of them aren't in a good enough condition to return to work." His dark brown eyes meet mine and Madolen's. "And most of them with benign injuries are horrified of the idea of going back to the Fields."

"Then we move the Fields here," I tell. "We'll have to stomach food that may not taste as good as if it were grown in the Fields, but it's food."

"With all due respect, my Prince, we've yet to receive the crops and seedlings from the Southern Isles," Hannah says. "We've nothing to plant."

"That's more of an advantage than a detriment," I say. "We have time to prepare every household garden for farming. We'll need to have a similar structure of tenting the plants to keep them frost free."

"I'll see to it that it gets done," Hannah nods before making a swift exit.

"Back to the topic of hurt farmers," Madolen begins. "Do you need anything to help the healing process? You say that there are many patients."

Spencer grimaces, "I fear we may not even need to treat them. Already a handful of those admitted have died from their injuries." He looks down forlornly. "I will do all I can for the remainder."

Jakob, chief of livestock speaks up beside Spencer. "In light of the tragedy, I have some good news." The wood skinned dark haired man speaks. "The spawning of the fish is peaking. We have plenty. The sharks are still nowhere to be found, and the movement of implementing a net to keep them away is almost at a close. Fishing is very strong." Jakob runs a hand through his coils of hair. "Although I must admit that the livestock could use some more feed. The feed was ruined last night. The barn where we store it was all but destroyed in the winds of the storm."

"We'll give them the ruined crops," Madolen tells. "From the Fields. It should hold down the fort until we manage to either grow or import some more feed."

Jakob nods, "I'll inform the fishermen and woman right away." He gives a curt bow before taking leave of his own.

"Your Majesties," Spencer gives a bow of his own before striding out of the Council area.

Madolen releases a sigh besides me. "It's crazy how all this happened in the span of a few hours."

I nod. "Although, it was relatively calm before this chaos began. We should take note of how the hail and thunder and lightning take a breather before they roar."

"I don't think the storm's done roaring just yet," Madolen gives a sad smile. "But we've made it this far." She looks to me with interest. "When did your family say that the shipment might arrive?"

I take her cold hand, "We won't have to wait too much longer. Two weeks more at the most. And for the time being, we'll live off a fish based diet – which isn't half as bad as it sounds."

Madolen's smile turns genuine. "Says the squid eater."

"You laugh but one gets very creative with seafood," I bob my head to the side and grin with a fond memory. "And I suppose there was a pride factor involved as well. Sometimes I'd ride out to calm rivers or lakes and catch some cod, get a fire going and waste time dreaming. Or talking to my horse." I huff a laugh.

"You mention this horse a lot," starts Madolen. "What was his name?"

"Sitron," I say. "Sitron is his name. He's still alive and kicking, I just… didn't bring him. That's likely to change."

"I'd be glad to meet him," Madolen squeezes my hand tightly with a sweet grin on her before she stands. "I think I may have to go see Spencer. I… have some questions about the injured, and my parents. I didn't have the courage to ask until now."

"Do you want me to join you?" I stand, ready to leave if needed.

Madolen promptly shakes her head. "Don't worry about it, Jasper already agreed to take me." She smiles brightly at me. "I'll let you know how it went."

"Please do, elskede." Madolen puts her hands on my shoulders and presses a quick kiss to my cheek, before she begins her walk to the Hospital.

Madolen

"Your Majesty, Jasper," Spencer greets me and Jasper as we enter the Hospital, gloved hands bloodied. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"Um, I wanted to know just how many men and women you have here that still need care," I begin. Spencer nods slowly as I speak. "And I wanted to know about my parents."

"Of course, my Princess," Spencer cocks his head towards a set of stairs that lead up to the patients from the foyer we're in. "Follow me."

"Can I bring my cockatiel?' I ask before we move, pointing at my perched Fabrice.

"That's fine, as long as he stays put," Spencer says.

Soon we're stomping up the stairs and we reach the second floor. It's littered with men and women that rest on their respective hospital beds groaning respective groans. I see a set of stairs in the back of the room. "Does that lead to even more of them?" I question.

"I'm afraid so," Spencer sighs. "Right now you caught me finishing up a swamp of stitching up wounds. There's still more to be done, but once I've done that, bacteria may set in. The wounds may begin to fester and undo all I've done." He speaks softly so that no patients hear of the upsetting news. "The orchards have brought in citrus, which I use to sterilise wounds where I can. But we're running out and I'll have to start rationing more and more. Even then, I fear that this is food better used as food for the hungry instead of disinfectant for those who are most likely not going to make it."

I nod with understanding. "…Hannah needs to know about this."

"I'll relay the message," Jasper speaks up. "So long as you do all you can, doctor. These are good men and women in here."

Spencer nods. "I'm bound by my honour." He looks to me, "As for the matter of our… late King and Queen, what would you like to know?" the fair haired man has deflated.

"Doctor, they… they were getting better weren't they?" I give a hapless smile, trying to feign bravery. "The day before they died, they weren't spectacular, but they managed the strength to get out of bed."

"Let's discuss this in my office," Spencer pulls off his gloves and gestures that Jasper and I follow. Jasper takes my hand empathetically and we follow. We pass by a number of people before reaching a door I never noticed before stamped on one of the walls. Spencer holds it open and shuts it as soon as we all enter. "Your Majesty, please understand that what I'm about to say, I say with no ill intentions. I only say this as a physician who's addressing a concern."

"Oui, I understand that," I nod.

"Alright," Spencer proceeds. "The king and queen may have quickened their death by persisting in their efforts to be involved and active. They should've been bedded and fed and monitored. The only activity that they'd need in such a state is to step out of bed and stretch."

I take a breath, "But they passed so suddenly."

"Oui, they're bodies might've reached their limit," Spencer tells. "It was a very aggressive disease they were ensnared in. They were lucky to even live that long. I've never seen anything like it before."

The thought pops back into my head that I was sick too, around the same times that my parents were sick. In fact, before they were sick. I could've given them whatever I had. "Doctor, I think I may have something to do with it."

Jasper tightens his grasp on my hand, "No, Madolen. You didn't."

"Non, you, you don't understand," I look to Spencer. "I was sick. And after that my parents got sick. And then they died. That's too much a coincidence for me to just be dreaming it up."

"What were the symptoms of your illness?" Spencer looks at me with interest.

"I was fatigue and sore," I say, convicted. "I had headaches and sometimes even a fever. All the same symptoms my parents had."

"And you're better now?" Jasper questions.

I sigh, "Well, no. When they died it started calming. But now I feel those symptoms again."
"When did these ailments start?" Spencer takes a piece of paper and a sleek pen to jot down some notes.

"I think the week of Almabtrieb," I say.

"Have you experienced any additional problems?" Spencer asks.

"No," I shake my head.

"When was the last time you menstruated?" Spencer stops scribbling to look at me.

"Well, I've been so stressed lately that I haven't since Almabtrieb," I tell. "But this has happened before that I've been late. Many times. When I was fifteen, it was a stressful year and I missed three months. I've never been irregular, but during stress I've missed some cycles."

"Mmhmm," Spencer nods, "I remember that. But you weren't married then, Princess."

"Madolen, are you pregnant?" Jasper cocks a brow of intrigue.

"Non, I'm not pregnant," I say. "….I'm not, am I?" I glance at Spencer.

"Well, you've been sore, fatigue and going months without menstruation," Spencer has a smile on his face. "I'd say you are. And I'd say that's why you've been feeling so sick."

"Are you sure?" I question, not sure if I'm ready to believe it to be true.

Spencer laughs. "Well, I have a big hunch. I've seen my share of pregnant women and women trying to get pregnant and what you're describing sounds like early pregnancy to me. I speculate that you may have conceived a month ago. You'll be vomiting all over the place soon if you are pregnant so in about two weeks, we should know for sure."

"Wow, Madolen, a baby!" Jasper muses. "I never would've thought you'd be a mother. You're just so…" Jasper struggles for word. "You."

I smile. "Gee, thanks." My hand wanders to my stomach, mind racing at the thought of what's going on in there. "Doctor… how sure are you?"

"99.9 percent sure," says Spencer." Your parents were tougher than the average man and woman. Whatever took their lives would've taken yours too if you ever had it. The symptoms you've had are more often than not related to pregnancy, and I'll tell you now you're giving me vibes of a mother to be. I've been in this line of work for twenty years. Just me saying that you're pregnant is enough to confirm it."

I grin at Spencer. "Okay. Thank you. Merci." I nod once, finally allowing myself to familiarize myself with the situation. "Merci."

"How do you feel?" Jasper questions as we stroll back towards the castle.

"Different," I say, willing myself against touching my stomach any more. "Very different."

"A good different or….?"

"It's bittersweet," I shrug. "I never thought about children. I had the next forty years of my life planned out and children didn't feature in it. But… now that I'm most likely gonna have a baby, I'm excited. I'm upset that Ma and Da aren't here for the baby…" Jasper puts an arm of comfort around my shoulders, rubbing his thumb up and down my arm. Fabrice, hops off of my shoulder and flutters beside us as we walk. "I'm frustrated, actually, that I'm pregnant right now. I feel stupid that I've put myself in a position that I'll be swelling up during this hard time." I begin speaking with my hands as I realize the gravity of the situation. "And I'm a bit worried that once I'm done having this baby… Hans will want another enfant right afterwards."

"You don't want that?"

"Not as much as he does," I say. "A baby is a big responsibility and I don't wanna have to juggle two. Even then he'd still want another one. We bargained that we should have our first baby before we worry about any more kids."

"How many more kids are we talking?"

"A dozen," I say. "That's what he wants." I look up at Jasper, a tall chap, his coils of brunette hair pulled away from his face with an Alice band. "Jasper, I can't have that many children."

"Well…" Jasper looks away and clears his throat. "The man does come from a large family. Perhaps he wants to replicate some of that."

I hold back from telling Jasper about Hans' neglect in such a generous number of siblings. "How many children do you want?"

"Erm," Jasper fishes for words. "Three, at the very most four."

I give a sad laugh. "Looks like we're both on the shallow end of the kiddie pool. I know for a fact that Gala wants an army of enfants. And the number grows every time I ask her."

"I'll cross that road when I get to it," Jasper says with a smile. "Maybe I'll fashion a deal like you and Hans did."

I snicker, looking back ahead as we approach the castle. "Should I tell him right away? I may not even be pregnant. And me saying I am will instigate a whole lot of conversations I'm not sure I wanna have right now."

"Well, Doctor Spencer sure thinks you're gonna be a mama," Jasper reminds. "And in my humble opinion, I think he's right. You and Hans consummated your marriage not long ago. It only makes sense." Jasper runs a hand through his hair. "I think you should tell him. If ever Gala was pregnant, I'd want her to tell me as soon as possible."

I give a smile of conflict. "You're right. I'll tell him." We reach the castle doors. "Don't tell Gala. Please? She'll tell the whole world before I get a chance to tell Hans and I don't want him to be the last to know."

"How long are you planning to delay this news?"

"I'll tell him today, but you and I both know Gala can't help herself."

Jasper laughs. "Don't worry, you can trust me."

I offer a grateful smile. "Thank you, Jasper. For everything." I wrap my arms around him and he returns the gesture.

"You're gonna be a wonderful, mother, Madolen," whispers he. "I know it."

I crane my neck up to look at him. "I'll take your word for it."

I sit on the patio of the Gardens, wrestling ideas in my mind. I'm trying to decide a good a way of dropping the news so that Hans doesn't get too excited and ahead of himself, and ahead of me.

The weather out here is rainless, if you can believe it. After weeks and weeks of rain and a violent storm last night, there are no showers.

"Maybe I should put it in writing," I start, looking to my yellow bird who sits on the railing that I lean my forearms on. "That's a good idea, isn't it, Fabrice? That way he can process it before coming to me." Fabrice doesn't look too impressed with me. "Eh, you're right. That's the chicken's way out." I shift my weight from leg to leg, as I rest my head on the railing. The sun has long since set out here. Its cousins the stars putting on a show in a foggy night. I glance out at the hammock Da, Hans and I set up, growing oh so nostalgic. Beside me is the round table with steel chairs that Ma and I would so often have unhealthy snacks away from prying eyes. "So many memories," I mumble to myself. I rest my head on my folded arms. I can practically see Da telling the old tale of great grandad Rafael before me with such enthuse. Ma's cheery laughter and snide remarks making both Da and I bashful.

"You look like you could use some company," Hans' voice startles me to reality and I spring up. I notice he's standing right beside me.

"Hans, I, I didn't hear you coming out here," I straighten myself up and run my hands over any wrinkles and frumps on my dress. "Is there something you need?"

"Ja," he strokes his thumb over my cheek. "Min kone."

I smile, huffing a laugh through my nose. "Well, here I am, amar."

Hans smiles back. "So you are. All alone?" Fabrice gives an abrupt and loud chirp as he flutters up to Hans' face. "I'm sorry, Fabrice. How rude of me."

"Fabrice, envoler," I say. My birdie nestles into the side of my face before taking off to who knows where.

Hans watches him leave with intrigue. "What did you tell him?"

"To go fly out," I smile. "He'll be back though."

"Mm," Hans hums as he looks around us. "Why're you out in the cold?"

"I was just thinking," I say. "I needed a quiet space to do it."

"It's very late to be thinking so hard," Hans says, his eyes focused on me. "There must be something that requires so much time and devotion on your mind."

"Um," I look down to my hands that rise to clutch some of Hans' navy shirt. "There is." I look up and down between Hans and my hands. "I… was just thinking of how to help the hospitalized farmers," I chicken out of saying what I meant to say. "Just burning the night oil." I smile up at Hans.

"Any ideas, min princesse?" questions Hans.

"Non, not yet," I say. "But I'm sure something will come."

"Well," Hans takes my hands and puts them around his neck and I clasp them together. "While we're waiting for something to come," he hoists me up and plants me on the railing, "maybe I can steal you for myself." Hans presses a kiss to my lips and puts his hands on my waist.

"Hans, je suis enceinte," I breathe during a small break.

"Mmm?" Hans pulls me closer before we kiss again.

"J-je suis enceinte," I run a hand through Hans' hair, only feeling bold enough to say the words in a language he doesn't know. Hans' hands move down to my hips as he kisses the corner of my mouth, maybe to give me a chance to speak.

"To kan spille på dette spil," Hans says. "I'll just speak Danish if you're just gonna speak French." He smooches me again and the words just come blurting out.

"I'm pregnant!" I exclaim in a whisper.

"Hvad?" Hans freezes, pulling back to look at me. "What did you say?"

"I'm pregnant, Hans," my chest deflates with a breath that shows the contrast of hot and cold in the air. "I'm pregnant. Je suis enceinte."

Hans grins at me. "Would you consider me a rotten husband if I told you I already knew?"

I cock a brow at him, pulling back to meet his eyes. "You did?"

Hans nods. "That's not even the worst part of it," he gives a quiet laugh. "I planned it. I was expecting it."

"…You what?"

"Weren't you expecting it? You had to have known that this would happen."

"I did know that this would happen," I say. "But you intentionally wanted to get me pregnant." I laugh a surprised and baffled laugh, looking around me almost as if searching for a witness to what was just revealed. "I was just having fun. You were on some mission."

"Woah, elskede it wasn't a mission," Hans says. "I was very much hoping for a child, but a born wasn't the goal." I bite back my remarks, huffing through my nostrils and looking away from Hans. My hands begin to slide off down Hans' arms in the journey back to me. "Madolen, don't be like that," Hans catches my hands before they reach me. "Maybe you're upset because you wanted me to be just fooling around like you were and to some extent I was. But it wasn't all just fun and games for me. I was mindful and decided that I wanted a baby. I understand that might upset you but wouldn't you rather one of us was making a deliberate and conscious decision?"

I sigh. "Look, Hans, I'm pregnant and me being mad at you isn't gonna change that. But I feel disrespected that you practically went back on our deal. We both wanted to have kids after the storm and you trying to produce a baby regardless of that understanding is hurtful. Don't you respect my opinion?"

"Of course I do, Madolen," Hans emphasizes. "But no matter what objective I had in my mind you'd still be telling me you're pregnant today. You're really just upset that both of us weren't playing around. For you, it might've been 'if it's meant to be, it'll be', but for me, it wasn't."

"Okay, fine," I say, deciding not to dwell any longer on the topic. "It's fine."

"Madolen, if it's not fine don't say that it is," Hans says, his tone changing from understanding to something more desperate. "If you have a problem with me, I want you to tell me. Talk to me. Tal til mig. Don't pretend the issue isn't there. I'm not invisible." I realize now why Hans is getting stirred. Being brushed off reminds him of his unpleasant past.

"Hans-"

"I'm going to bed, Madolen," Hans kisses my forehead. "Goodnight, elskede."

Hans

The bedroom door shuts as Madolen enters. She goes about her night time rituals before climbing into bed beside me. She snuggles into my side, arms around me. "You won't find anything on that ceiling." She says, making reference to the way I'm lying, back to the mattress, eyes looking above. "I'm sorry about what happened outside, Hans," she nestles her neck into my ribs. "We had different views but when it's all said and done, I'm excited to be a mama. And I know you'll be a good father, and I'm glad it's you I get to take this journey with."

"Are trying to butter me up?"

"Is it working?"

"You're very charming, but no," I say.

"That's fair," Madolen props herself up so that her face is hovering above me. "You're not invisible. Especially not to me. I am sorry. Really. I was just frustrated and wanted us to stop before a fight started and you can clearly see how well that worked out." After watching me for a moment she sighs and shimmies up the bed so that she can tuck her face between the crook of my neck. "Don't sleep mad at me?"

A period of silence draws on as I wrestle with a tactful way to say what I mean to say. I could tell from the first day that I met Madolen that she may have some passive-aggressive behaviours, but I'd hoped I was wrong. "I need you to say what you want to say," Madolen lifts her face to gaze into my features again.

"I didn't want things to escalate, I'm sorry," Madolen looks down and fiddles with the material of my shirt.

"I'd rather we fight and hash it all out instead of harbouring resentment in the name of a temporary and fragile peace," I look at Madolen who refuses to look back. My arm trails up and down her back in a bid to show her I'm in a more forgiving mood. She meets my eyes. "Can you work on that, elskede?"

Madolen nods. "Mmhmm." Her eyes show signs of tears and she looks up to the ceiling.

"Madolen, are you crying?"

"Non, non…" she sniffs. "Oui, je pleure. I am, I'm crying."

I smile fondly at Madolen as she tries and fails to cage her tears. "Madolen, I'm not upset at you."

"I know," she nods, laughing. "They just won't stop."

"Come here, elskede," Madolen falls into my arms, her own arms snaking around me. I stroke her head as she softly sobs. "Are you upset?"

"No," she laughs again. "I swear, I'm okay." Madolen looks up at me. "I'm great actually. I'm great."

So this chapter is one of the longer ones and I wrote it much sooner than I thought I would. I hope you had a good read and I'll see you all when next I do.