Romulus and Remus waste no time in abandoning their duties as the queen's guards once they land in the Dark Forest castle's courtyard, both eager to find their prospective courts and prepare for the full moon's rising. She's going to have to find new guards once the pair announce their mateship on Beltane. Sure, they both expressed their wishes to continue being the queen's guards once they fulfill the newly-mateship laws but with how Remus and Kyanite have been acting, it won't take long before the female goblin is expecting her own infant.
Marianne chuckles as Junco interrupts her trek to the royal bedchambers and pulls her to the kitchen instead. Once the news was out about the infant, the master healer had made it her highest priority to make sure Marianne had the best of care and she nearly rivaled Griselda in her fussing over the expecting mother. Especially once Cu-Sith's announcement was confirmed several days later when they realized that Marianne's wings had stopped reflecting light, a clear indication to a fairy's pregnant state.
"I don't care if it's traditional for participants of the mateship hunts to not eat dinner, you are eating something," Junco orders, taking a bowl of stew from Nex and setting it on a small table.
She obediently obeys the master healer's orders and hums in delight at the first bite before greedily devouring the rest. The customary lunch with the arriving guests wasn't very satisfying, even with the winter apple tarts Joshua had brought later. Not even to the full quarter mark of her pregnancy yet and she is already unsatisfied with her usual amount of food. Bog might be correct on an early infant.
Thanking and complimenting the blushing chef, Marianne heads off to find her husband first. There was still some time left before she had to get ready.
It was not her intention to eavesdrop. All she was doing was trying to find Bog and let him know that she is back, maybe get in a few cuddles and kisses before they had to fulfill their duties. When she heard his voice, she immediately went toward him without even realizing that he was talking to another...until she got close enough to hear the soft speech and notice the smaller figure past him.
She probably should have just continued walking to the end of the corridor but overhearing her name being spoken, she couldn't help moving into the adjoining corridor before either noticed her presence. It felt embarrassing to walk into a conversation that she knew was about her. At the same time, she couldn't help but be curious what the female goblin said that got Bog all growly.
"I was only saying that it's not a good idea to take Queen Marianne on a mateship hunt," the female goblin defends.
Peering around the corner to get a better look, Marianne recognizes the other female as Yemma and she nearly gives herself away with a hum of confusion. The few times that she had interacted with Adder's elder sister, the goblin was always calm and quiet but here she is nearly growling at the taller goblin king.
Maybe not so surprising, actually.
There were several mothers who had voiced their concerns over their pregnant queen taking part in the Mid-Spring Wild Hunt when Bog questioned the elders about them being allowed to participate instead of just overseeing. They were easily appeased when Bog explained that he wanted to give her the experience that they had missed in their courtship because of the necessity of becoming mates on Samhain.
It took three days before Bog's blush faded from all the females' cooing and Griselda was prouder than usual for a whole week from all the compliments given to her about how she raised such a good son.
"Marianne is strong enough for the hunt," Bog states firmly.
"Her Majesty may be strong and all but you don't know how she hunts," Yemma comments. "That is if she can even hunt. She is a fairy princess, after all. You'll be the laugh of the kingdom if you can't bring back a kill by moon-down. Do you really want to subject yourself to the humiliation of her failing..."
Whatever else is said, Marianne doesn't bother to hear as she quickly but quietly makes her way to the royal bedchambers. The sting of tears forming in her amber eyes is rubbed at with the heel of her hand but the persistent water still makes it past her attempts to stop them. She ignores the pixies fussing as they swarm her once she enters her bedchambers and shuts the door behind her.
"I'm alright," Marianne assures at their concerned hums.
Smiling broadly at their skeptical looks, she nearly laughs at the three glares directed at her, complete with crossed arms, hands on hips, and a pointed finger.
"No, seriously, I'm fine," Marianne insists. "Now, did you get my hunting attire out and inspect it to make sure that it's still good?"
This time she has to hold back her laughter at the three looks of panic as the pixies rush to open the wardrobe and pull out a parcel from underneath the false floor. They quickly inspect the objects before breathing a sigh of relief and help her change into the stiffer clothes.
Marianne lets her mind drift back to what she overheard. At first, she had felt hurt by the female goblin's harsh words, that Yemma was sure that she would fail Bog. She almost fell back into that problem she had three months ago of feeling that she was being rejected as Queen of the Dark Forest.
By the spirits, these pregnancy emotions are horrible!
She knows how important both mateship hunts are to the Dark Forest. Griselda and the elders had made sure that she knew everything she needed to know, so as to avoid a repeat of the 'Imbolc misunderstanding'. Therefore, she is also fully aware of the significance of a failed hunt.
She was just so excited and so flattered that he wanted them both to participate in the mateship hunt despite them not needing to that she didn't stop to remember that they've never hunted together before. She didn't think about how bad it would look for Bog if they have trouble during the Mid-Spring Wild Hunt.
She just can't let Bog down.