"You've lost the baby."
That was all Princess Lillian could remember hearing.
"You've lost the baby."
He had been the one reason she would forgive the man she loved. And now, she was all alone in the delivery room, touching the cold face of a quiet baby. Her baby. Her son. Her first child.
"Goodbye, son," she whispered, stroking his sweet face.
Who would he have become?
She hadn't even gotten to name him. Too soon, he had been taken. And suddenly the nurse was there, lifting him from her arms.
"I am so sorry for your loss, my Lady."
The words meant nothing. Her son was gone forever.
All alone, she wept her grief and sadness, her anger and despair, until through the hot tears that blurred her vision she saw a triangular shaft of light fall onto the covers. Looking up, she saw only her mother; wearing an expression too similar to her own. All of her regal grace crumpled and she held out both arms, silently summoning her mother to her side.
"Oh, Mummy, I already miss him," she sobbed, as her mother stroked her hair. "Why did this happen?"
"I don't know, love."
"He...he...was so p-pale and..." She pulled away and wept into her hands. "And I never got to see his eyes!"
Her mother kissed her hair. "Brown."
"What?"
"They were brown," her mother said softly.
"Th-they were...Harold's eyes?"
"Yeah," her mother whispered, and kissed her again.
Then the door to the room opened and King Harold stumbled breathlessly in. "I just heard!" he exclaimed, hurrying to the bedside. He grasped her hand. "I...I don't know what to do..."
"Sit with me," Princess Lillian answered vulnerably, and King Harold obeyed.
"I'll just be outside." Her mother squeezed her hands and left the room.
Princess Lillian drew in an unsteady breath, and King Harold reached over to wipe the tears dripping from her red-brimmed eyes. She looked exhausted and terribly sad. Her hair was frayed and her forehead was moist.
King Harold took a deep breath. "I made another deal with Olivia."
"No, Harold, no..." Her head fell back on the pillow.
"Oh, don't worry. I think you'll like this one. It's my way of telling you I'm sorry."
She lifted her head and squinted at him. "You couldn't just say so?"
"Actions speak louder than words," he answered simply.
"What's the deal, then?"
He felt his cheeks go warm. "That I...turn into a frog for twelve hours every time I lie."
Princess Lillian slowly began to smile. "Really?"
"Yes." He squeezed her hands and her smile grew wide.
Brushing back another tear, she looked down at their conjoined hands, and then met his gaze. "I want to marry you."
He was a little taken aback. "Are you sure?"
She nodded and relaxed against the pillow. "I love you, and I don't want to be alone again."
"Then, you won't be." He leaned in to share with her a quick kiss. When he pulled back, Princess Lillian tried feebly to smile past her fatigue.
"Sleep."
And there he sat, brushing his hands across hers until she passed out. He gently extracted his hands and left to retrieve a glass of water and something sweet for when she awoke.