Alyss woke up to a dull ache in her belly, it's true she did go through this every month but not like this time, this time things had just been so unbearable she had asked Pauline to give her a few days off, to which the woman agreed to. She curled over on her side, arms wrapped around her waist, sometimes being a girl was hard. She laughed as she thought of what would happen if boys had to go through this as well. 'Especially Horace,' she thought, 'he would freak out,' Will, her husband would probably just suffer silently like she did. She loved Will with all her heart and it made her happy just to think about those big brown eyes and curly locks however she really didn't want to tell him about this. What he thought less of her? What if he thought she was weak and fragile? Or worse, what if it made him stop loving her as much?

Alyss was an overthinker, so when her husband came back from his mission later that day, she opted not to tell him. Usually she would be excited about Will having returned but the pain was worsening and tears glistened in her eyes as she hugged him and welcomed him back. Will took one look at the love of his life and knew something was wrong. "Hey 'lyss whats wrong?"

"Nothing," she said, her voice obviously strained.

"Alyss I can tell when something's up, are you okay?" Alyss longed to tell him to have him wrap his arms around her and hold her close but the insecurities and the what ifs creeped into her mind.

"Just tired," she shrugged.

"Maybe you should go get some sleep," Will led her into their bedroom at the back of the cabin and guided her to the bed, making sure she lay down on it. "I'll check on you in a bit," he planted a kiss on her forehead and left. As soon as he closed the door she doubled over in pain and exhaustion, hiding this from him was draining her, eventually she fell asleep in the fetal position, knees tucked up by her chin.

Will opened the door carefully so as not to wake his sleeping wife, 'strange,' he thought. Alyss was sleeping curled up much like an animal would in hibernation arms around her waist. Arms around her waist of course! Will ran outside and saddled Tug riding with castle Redmont in his sights, he needed confirmation. As the ground beneath Tug's hooves changes form grass into the cobble of the castle courtyard he dropped down from the saddle and gave Tug the signal to stay, no need to hand him over to a stable boy although he was always reluctant to do so, they wouldn't be staying long. He knocked on the door and it swung open to reveal the familiar face of his mentor, "Hullo, Will,"

"Halt is Pauline in I need to speak with her,"

"I'm right here," She glided gracefully from around the corner. "What is it you need darling?"

"Ah Pauline, has Alyss taken anytime of work recently?"

"Yes she has dear, three days to be exact,"

"Thank you," he shouted behind him as he ran out the door.

"What the devil was that about?" Halt turned to his wife, to see if she might have an explanation for his former apprentice's strange behavior. Pauline merely shrugged. "Could never understand that boy," Halt said almost fondly as he closed the door.

Alyss stirred at the opening of the door and the screech of the hinges, and then grimaced in pain wrapping her arms around her waist once more. Too occupied with the ever growing pain, she didn't hear Will enter. "Here, this'll help," she opened her eyes as he passed her a hot water bottle and a glass of water with a painkiller, she was so grateful she would've kissed him there and then. Them being married that's what she did. After she had taken the painkiller Will wrapped her up in his arms and put the hot water bottle on her stomach, they stayed like that for a few minutes; Will hugging Alyss and Alyss with her head on Will's chest. "How did you know?" Alyss asked, pulling back from the embrace and looking into her husbands brown eyes, she could stare into those eyes forever, she thought.

"I went to visit Pauline but I just needed confirmation, I always suspected the moment I got back. Promise me next time you'll tell me?"

"Promise,"

"I love you Alyss, you're so strong, you know that?" But Alyss didn't hear him, her sleeping figure curled up against Will. She really was lucky.