Blackagar was in his room, looking out the window when his brother entered. "Good Morning, my King." Maximus greeted, with a strangely triumphant look on his face. Bolt kept his wariness to himself- like he had a choice- and nodded at him. "I bring news of the soon to be queen."

He waved his hand at him, telling him to go on.

"I visited her chambers," Max paused for a moment, taking in his brother's reaction. He was disappointed to see him as calm as ever, "and she seemed to be unwell."

Bolt slowly turned to look at Maximus.

If something had happened to her, no one would be safe. Maximus realized that so he quickly reassured him, "It is nothing serious, brother. But I did talk to her maid," He whispered slyly, "it seems our queen isn't as pure as we first thought her to be."

A surprised look appeared on Bolt's face for just a moment before he collected himself, but Max had seen what he needed to see. This was the right way to go about it. "Her beautiful, fair face was green as she emptied her stomach, but there was a glorious glow about her, my king." He placed a hand on his brother's shoulder, "I think- I think Medusa is with child, Blackagar."

He stiffened under Maximus' touch and pulled away. No. It could not be true. Not the woman he loved, not her too. He raised a tired hand and made a waving gesture, telling him to go. Maximus bowed from the waist up and left, a wicked grin decorating his face.

Blackagar wouldn't believe it. Couldn't believe it. Did he love her enough to accept someone else's child?

He turned on his heel and stormed out of the room. He would see for himself what the matter was.

Just as he was about to knock on the door of her room, he heard something that turned his world upside down.

"How do you feel?" He heard the maid ask Medusa softly.

"Wonderful." She whispered wearily, "I'm glad I have you with me. I would hate to have to go through this alone."

"Of course, my lady. I simply hope it's out of you soon, lest people start to notice." He heard a sigh and footsteps. "How do you think it happened?"

"I am not sure." She admitted. Bolt's heart beat painfully against his chest.

How many men has she been with?

Bolt was not stupid. He hadn't expected Medusa to be a virgin, of course. But to have it confirmed tore at him, thinking of someone else touching her in the most intimate manner made him want to scream, universe be damned, but he knew he had to be more responsible than that.

He himself had been with two women his entire life. The first, a prostitute his brother had taken him to meet and the other had been his first girlfriend.

"Hm. Will you tell the king? He would be worried."

Bolt thanked whoever the maid was. He would know what to do when she told him. He would figure it out.

"No." Medusa said casually, "He doesn't need to be bothered by this. It'll over soon anyway."

Just like that his heart broke a little. He walked away from the door, dazed. He couldn't hear anymore lest he burst into the room and shake her by her shoulders.

Suddenly he made a decision.

He loved her. He would make her love him, no matter what.

He'd make sure of that.