Pregnant.

Once she got over the initial shock, Alianna found herself happier than she had been in a long time. She had always loved children and dreamed of the day when she would be a mother.

Alianna rubbed her hand gently across her stomach.

"I take it this is good news?" Kathryn asked.

Alianna looked at her and nodded. "Yes. I'll admit it does come as a shock though."

"I understand."

"Is the baby alright?" Alianna asked, concerned. "How far along am I?"

"Everything is fine." Kathryn told her. "And from what I can tell, you're about three months along. You should try to get plenty of rest and avoid any stress."

"If only that were possible." Alianna thought. She stood up and put on her cloak. "Thank you for your help." She took out her bag of gold coins and handed them to Kathryn.

Kathryn's eyes widened. "This is too much! I can't possibly…"

"Please, I want you to have it." Alianna insisted. "But if anyone asks, I was never here."

Kathryn nodded and told Alianna that she understood. "Well, I wish you the best of luck Elizabeth. If you need anything, please come back. I'll be in the city for a few more weeks."

Alianna thanked her again before she left.

During the walk back to the castle, Alianna thought about the baby growing inside of her. She wondered if the baby was a boy or a girl, but it didn't matter to her. All Alianna cared about was the baby being healthy. She also wondered how Murtagh was going to react to the news. He already had so much to deal with. While the subject of children had come up a couple of times, it wasn't something they had planned for right away. Alianna worried about how well they would be able to raise a baby. They were both so young. Although Alianna knew of women even younger than her who had had babies and they seemed to be doing just fine.

Before long, Alianna reached the castle. Luckily no one seemed to notice her as she reached the side wall where the rope still hung from her chamber window. But just as Alianna grabbed a hold of the rope, she heard footsteps coming from behind her.

"You really shouldn't be doing that in your condition." a voice said.

This startled Alianna. She jumped back and when she looked up, she saw that it was Argus.

Alianna breathed a sigh of relief. "Argus you scared me!"

"Well you scared me." he said. "You never should've run off like that."

"I had no choice." Alianna told him. She then thought about the first thing Argus had said and looked at him strangely. "Wait, what do you mean by my condition?"

"Alianna, I'm not stupid. Besides, I followed you into the city. I know. You're-"

Alianna quickly interrupted him. "Shhh! Not here."

Alianna and Argus went into the castle and up to Alianna's chambers. As soon as the chamber doors were closed, Argus spoke.

"You're pregnant aren't you?"

Alianna hesitated for a moment, but then nodded her head. "How did you know?"

"I've suspected it for awhile now." Argus admitted. "You haven't been eating and you're always exhausted. Murtagh told me you vomited last night and I heard you doing it this morning too. But you pretty much confirmed it just now when I approached you. Before you knew it was me, you jumped back and put your hand on your stomach as if you were protecting the baby."

"I did?" Alianna asked. She hadn't even realized she had done it.

"Yes." Argus told her.

Alianna slowly sat down on the edge of her bed.

Argus took a few steps closer to her. "What are you doing to do?"

Alianna looked up. "About the baby? I'm keeping it of course. I could never…"

"I know, but I just thought I'd ask. It's going to be okay."

"I hope so." Alianna sighed.

"Would you like me to go find Murtagh?" Argus asked her.

"No."

"Alianna you have to tell him!"

"I know. And I will." Alianna assured him. "I just need a few days to figure out how I'm going to do this."

Argus nodded. "If that's what you think is best."

"I do. Argus, I want you to promise me that you won't tell anyone."

"You know I won't." Argus told her.

Alianna smiled and looked down at her stomach, which was slightly swollen, but not enough for anyone to notice yet. "Do you think I'll be a good mother?"

"I think you'll be a wonderful mother." Argus said. Alianna thought she could detect a hint of sadness in his voice.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A few days later, Alianna and Murtagh were walking around the courtyard. It was one of those rare days where Galbatorix was too busy to train Murtagh. He was off meeting with some of his magicians and spies. Alianna knew that her father was planning another attack on the Varden, but all she could think about was that she finally had some alone time with her husband.

"Are you feeling any better?" Murtagh asked her. He still didn't know she was pregnant. Alianna had told him about going into the city alone though. While he hadn't been too happy about that, he never asked her why she did it.

Alianna told him that she was feeling better, but really she was still nauseous. Luckily it wasn't as bad as it had been a few days ago.

Murtagh could tell that something wasn't right with Alianna. But before he could ask her about it, the two of them came across a small boy who appeared to be no older than five or six years old. The boy was crying and frantically looking around as if he were lost.

"I know him. That's Eve's son." Alianna said. Eve worked in the kitchen as a cook. The boy's name was Trevan.

Alianna and Murtagh slowly approached him.

"Are you alright?" Alianna asked as she bent down to the boy's level.

"Momma!" Trevan cried. "Where's my Momma?"

"Don't worry." Murtagh said. "We'll help you find her."

Alianna smiled. "Of course we will." She reached her hand out towards him. Trevan hesitated for a moment, but then put his tiny hand in hers.

Alianna and Murtagh led Trevan all around the courtyard, scanning over the large crowd. It took awhile, but finally Alianna spotted Eve, who as soon as she saw her son, ran over to them.

"There you are!" Eve cried as she embraced Trevan. She then looked up and saw Alianna. She quickly got to her feet. "My lady…"

Eve began to bow down, but Alianna stopped her.

"Please, that's not necessary."

"Thank you for finding my son." Eve said. She looked at Murtagh. "Both of you. I was trying to work and watch him at the same time. My husband normally looks after him during the day, but he's been ill lately. I only turned my back for a moment and he must've wandered off. I'm sorry."

"There's no need to apologize." Alianna said. "We understand."

"I don't know what I would've done if something had happened to him."

"I'm glad he's alright." Alianna said. She looked down at Trevan. "You have a beautiful son."

Eve thanked them again for their help and then left with Trevan soon after. As they were walking away, Trevan looked at Alianna and smiled. Alianna smiled back at him.

Murtagh looked at Alianna. "You're very good with children."

"I hope so." Alianna thought.

It was getting late so Alianna and Murtagh began heading back to the castle.

"Murtagh?"

"Yes?" Murtagh answered.

"Do you ever think about us having children?" Alianna asked him.

"I suppose so. It's just-"

"Just what?"

"I'm worried."

Alianna simply nodded her head. She didn't need to ask him why he was worried. She already knew the answer. He was worried about what kind of father he would be, given the fact that Morzan had treated him so cruelly. Alianna assured Murtagh that he was nothing like Morzan and that he would be a good father.

"What brought this up?" Murtagh asked. "Is something going on?"

Alianna looked all around and then took Murtagh aside so that no one could hear them. She figured she had put off telling Murtagh long enough. She took a deep breath. But before she could tell Murtagh that she was pregnant, one of Galbatorix's guards approached them. Alianna couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"The king wishes to see you right away." the guard said.

"Of course he does." Alianna sighed.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

As they walked closer to Galbatorix's chambers, Alianna began to worry. She wondered if her father had somehow found out she was pregnant or that she had gone to Argus' chambers a few days earlier.

When they got there, Galbatorix looked at Alianna. "What have you done now?"

"I don't know what you're talking about Father."

Galbatorix started to get angry. "Yes you do!"

"I'm afraid I don't." Alianna answered.

"Some of my guards spotted you sneaking off into the city a few days ago. Why they didn't tell me until today I don't know. Is what they say true?"

Alianna hesitated.

Galbatorix became even angrier. "I demand that you tell me!"

Alianna didn't know what to say to him. Normally she would talk back to her father and not give it a second thought. But now she had to be very careful about what she said to him. Otherwise he might get so angry that he'd attack her and she could lose the baby because of it.

Alianna stood there silently, becoming even more afraid with each passing second.

Murtagh, seeing how upset Alianna was getting, stepped in front of her and said. "Leave her alone!"

"How dare you!" Galbatorix replied. "Do you know anything about this?"

Murtagh looked at Alianna for the longest time before looking back at Galbatorix. "No, I don't."

"You're lying." Galbatorix said. "I'll prove it."

Before Alianna could say a word, Galbatorix began entering Murtagh's mind.

Alianna watched in horror as this happened. She could see that Murtagh was in pain and beads of sweat were dripping down his face.

If Alianna hadn't been pregnant, she would've stepped in and tried to stop her father. As much as she wanted to help Murtagh, she had to protect her unborn child. It killed Alianna that all she could do was just stand there and watch.

It wasn't long before Galbatorix found the information he wanted. Afterward, he looked at Alianna and said. "Did you really think you could lie to me and get away with it?"

Alianna replied. "I…"

"How many times must I go through this with you? I'm growing tired of it. You're forbidden from leaving the castle until further notice. I'll know if you try to escape. Have I made myself clear?"

Alianna nodded. "Yes Father."

Both Galbatorix and Murtagh stared at her. They seemed surprised that she agreed to this and didn't try to put up a fight.

Galbatorix then sent for Argus and asked him to escort Alianna to her chambers.

"Yes my lord." Argus said.

Murtagh began to walk away with Alianna and Argus, but Galbatorix demanded that he stay.

"There's something I need to discuss with you." Galbatorix said.

Murtagh turned to Alianna. "I'll see you later." He gave her a quick kiss.

Alianna nodded and kissed Murtagh back. She then happened to glance at her father, who was glaring at her with so much hatred in his eyes that it frightened her. She realized then that there was no way she could raise a baby around him. Alianna also realized that she couldn't tell Murtagh that she was pregnant. Galbatorix could read Murtagh's mind. If Alianna told Murtagh, then surely her father would find out. As much as she hated to do so, Alianna had to keep her pregnancy a secret for the time being.

A few minutes later, Alianna and Argus arrived at Alianna's chambers.

"Are you alright?" Argus asked, sounding very concerned.

"No, I'm not." Alianna tearfully told him.

She looked down at her stomach and placed her hand on it.

"What am I going to do?"