"Mother?" Cecile signed to Christine as she sat eating her chicken broth.

"Yes?" She took a sip of tea sitting next to her.

"Am I ever going to get a brother or sister?" That stopped Christine from sipping her tea fully.

"Perhaps." Her hands set down the tea making sure it did not shake. The question was totally out of the blue. "Why Cecile?"

"I always wanted to be a big sister." She shrugged.

"Well, one day you will be." Christine nodded. "But first your father and I have to deal with many things."

"You mean the war in your country?"

"Yes." She did not know that the little girl kept up on that sort of thing.

"Do you ever miss your country?" Cecile asked innocently, but Christine began to feel a sort of loss once the mention of the war started. She did miss her country; she missed the smells, the feel, everything about it.

"I do." She answered carefully, "But I am happy here."

"Why don't you go back and visit?"

"I suppose it is dangerous now." Christine shrugged. "Besides I would have to leave you and I could not."

"We could all go." The small girl began to get excited. "You, me, and father!"

"It is dangerous now, Cecile." She gave her a stern look. "But maybe we could when the war is over."

"Then I can have a brother or sister, too?" Her eyes widened.

Christine just laughed. "That may be pushing it."

"Erik?" Christine turned to him as they sat at the piano and listened to him play.

"Yes?" He kept playing.

"I miss Liren." She said quietly.

"We will go." His shoulders shrugged. "Perhaps after the fighting, it would be safer."

"I would like to go now." Her eyes pleaded with his, the playing stopped and he turned to her.

"You know it is dangerous to even speak of traveling to Liren now." He sighed. "There are so many things that could happen while just going to Liren, and then once we get there, there is the fighting and everything."

"My people need me Erik." She took her hand in his. "I am not asking your permission, I am asking if you want to go with me."

"Christine." His head shook. "It is too dangerous. The path to Liren will undoubtedly be filled with troopers or militia. Then you must deal with the fighting once you arrive."

"I know the back roads to Liren, very well." Christine told him. "I am going to take them; the question is whether or not you will come with me."

"What of the duties here?"

"Borswan is not under attack." She rolled her eyes. "The affairs that need to be dealt with are not difficult. Let Madame Giry keep an eye on them. You do not have to come with me, Erik."

"What of Cecile?" His eyes grew soft. "She cannot travel, especially now and to Liren."

"I know." Her hand drop his and she got off the bench. "I will miss her, but I will see her when I return."

"And if her illness becomes worse?"

"Are you trying to bring guilt into my heart so I will not leave Erik?" She turned on him furiously.

"It is too dangerous to leave!" He stood. "They are probably waiting for you to go! We cannot underestimate him, perhaps it is a trap!"

"My country needs me!"

"Your family needs you!"

"I will see my family when I return!"

"What if you don't return?" He shouted, and the room became silent. Christine looked down. His eyes closed for a moment, collecting him self and then opened, speaking much more calm. "I could not bear to lose you, Christine. Cecile could not bear to lose you. Both countries could not bear to lose you. If you leave, you know that Plantne will look for you. They will hunt for you. Even the back roads might be filled with troopers. I know you want to be there for your country but…"

"I have to go." She looked at him, tears threatening to spill. "My father saw the start of the country become what it is, and I promised that I would make it better. I am not traveling in a carriage I am traveling on horseback. I will take the safety precautions you want, but I will not take many guards, my ladies, or anything, only enough to last the journey." Her hands went to his bare cheeks. "I promise that I will come back."

"Dead or alive?" His voice was cruel and he dropped her hands.

"Alive." Her eyes narrowed at him. "Or would you rather have me dead?"

"Christine!"

"Listen," She sighed. "Either you are going to support me or you are going to be angry with me. Now which would be easier?"

"Which would make you not go?"

"I am going either way."

"Then I guess I have to go with you." He shrugged.

"What?" Christine was a bit taken aback, happy, but a little confused.

"I have to go with you." He repeated.

"Really?" She smiled.

"Yes."

"Thank you!" Her arms went around his neck and she kissed him. "You have no idea how much this means to me!"

"Well," Erik moved his hands lower on her waist in a suggestive manner. "We have to continue our lessons somehow."

"Majesty." Sorielli approached Christine as they and Meg packed her bags.

"Yes?" Christine asked, looking over some of her toiletries.

"Must you leave?" She asked quietly. Christine turned to the blond and saw that she had tears in her eyes.

"Sorielli." Her arms went around the girl. "I will come back I promise."

"Some promises are not kept." Meg said softly, as she tucked another item in Christine's small bags. The queen beckoned one of her friends into her other arm, which Meg willingly took.

"I will come back." Christine smiled.

"Why can't we come with you?" Sorielli begged.

"You have to stay here." She sighed. "Make sure that things are kept going how they usually go. Stay alert for things out of character, or meetings taken place. Do not let others know what you are doing. I want to be kept updated of the going on's around Borswan while the king and I are gone. But do not send any letters, unless they were very urgent. I am I understood?"

"Yes, Majesty." They both nodded. Going back to work each one kept to their thoughts until Meg turned to Christine and let a small smile grace her lips.

"So, Your Grace." She smirked. "How do you plan to keep warm on the cold nights to Liren?"

"Blankets." Christine shrugged. "Perhaps an inn if we are lucky enough."

"And if all else fails?"

"I don't know." She looked at the girl. "Why do you have a suggestion?"

"Oh nothing." Meg shrugged. "Just…"

"Meg." Sorielli sent her a warning.

"I am sure the king would not mind sharing a little body heat with you." She finished.

"No, I am sure he wouldn't." Christine giggled with the other girls.

I am horrible at updating this story! I have the chapters written I just needed to send them into my beta, who has run off somewhere to I do not know where, BUT! I have a new beta! Thank you to everyone who wanted the job! I am so grateful to have you all as my readers! And I noticed, as I read the replies to the beta job that I am not very good at getting back to you on reviews and for that I am very sorry I will try to be better. Again thank you everyone for taking the time to sit and read my stories.

EV