Aslan was away with his duties. Aibhistín decided to stay behind once her mother fell sick. Someone had to nurse her.
"Mother, please eat your soup. You need your strength."
"Whatever I eat just comes right back up. There is no point in eating."
"Then I will eat it and I'll get the cooks to make you some chicken broth with bread. You need to try and keep something down."
"Fine then. Bring me some chicken broth and bread."
"It's about time you asked for food."
"I'm not asking you, daughter. I'm telling you."
"I'm going mother, do not worry. I'll bring you back some water if you can keep it down."
The greatest cooks in the land were no doubt the beavers, and every day it seemed like the kitchens of Cair Paravel were overrun with beavers, but the royals would not have it any other way.
"Your highness Princess Aibhistín. What can we get for you?"
"I just need some bread and broth for mother. She needs to eat something. And do you have anything for nausea? I've been feeling nauseated the past few mornings."
"Of course, your highness. Chicken broth and bread for your mother, and dead nettle tea for you. That should help with your nausea."
"Thank you."
"You are most welcome."
The lady beaver followed Aibhistín up the stairs to her mother's room, carrying the food tray.
"You can just set it on the table, Miss Beaver. I'll take it from here."
"Good day, my lady."
"To you as well."
"Aibhistín, I didn't want any tea."
"The bread and broth are for you, mother. The tea is for me. I've been feeling nauseated the past few mornings."
"Did I get you sick?"
"I don't think so."
"Get a physician to look you over."
"I will, mother. But you need to eat first. Are you strong enough to eat by yourself?"
"I should be."
"Well then, eat. I'll be in the library if you need me."
Aibhistín made sure to take her tea with her, for fear that her nausea would grow worse. She was not entirely wrong.
"Princess Aibhistín! Good afternoon to you!"
"Good afternoon to you as well, Vilnus."
"Are you looking for any particular book today, your highness?"
"You wouldn't happen to have any books on the anatomy of us humans would you?"
"I think there is one here. Are you needing it for her highness Queen Dowager Ránallín?"
"Mainly."
"Ah, yes. Here it is. Brought to this world by their majesties King Frank I and Queen Helen."
"This will do perfectly. Thank you, Vilnus."
"You are most welcome, your highness."
Aibhistín took the book with her to her chambers and she sat down to read it. There was only one chapter she was interested in. Aside from nausea, she had been feeling very fatigued, but she thought it was just the stress of caring for her mother. She did not know what else could be wrong with her.
A few weeks later, her mother's condition worsened, and the court physicians did not know what to do for her. And Aibhistín's symptoms of whatever she had grew, so the Narnians took charge of Queen Ránallín.
"Where is Aibhistín? Where is my daughter?"
"She is on bed rest, your majesty. She wasn't feeling well."
"Why? What is wrong with her?"
"She said she has been feeling nauseated and very fatigued."
"Oh, Lord, did I give her whatever I am sick with?"
"We don't know, your majesty. She will be alright, I am sure of it."
Queen Duana noticed how Aibhistín was feeling, and she recognized the symptoms right away. She has had those same symptoms three times.
"Aibhistín, how are you feeling now?"
"I'm just still tired."
"I've been where you are."
"How do you mean?"
"No need to be frightened, Aibhistín. You are not sick, there is nothing wrong with you."
"Then why have I been vomiting? It has to be something."
"Of course it does. I threw up when I was with child. It is a normal symptom."
"What did you say?"
"When?"
"You said you threw up when you were-."
"With child."
Aibhistín remembered the prophecy said her and Aslan's grandchildren would help to defeat the White Witch, so of course she needed to be with child.
"Could I really be with child?"
"I would assume so. We'll have a physician look you over."
"But my curiosity is, will I be giving birth to human children, or lions?"
"That, I do not know. But look at Mallaidh. She has a snake, a bear, a dragon, and a vampire for ancestors."
"More than that."
"I know. But my point is, even with all that, the children of those creatures were born as humans. I don't know if you will have the same effect, but who knows?"
"Thank goodness Narnia is a country where a daughter is loved just as much as a son."
"Our ancestors brought stories of women who ruled nations, and became feared by every man in their known world."
"That describes Maiali, and all the queens before her."
"And all of the queens that will come after her."
A lady faun came running into Aibhistín's chambers, with a letter from Mallaidh of Terebinthia.
"Princess Aibhistín! Princess Aibhistín! A letter for you from Princess Mallaidh of Terebinthia!"
"Thank you, Mulra."
"What does it say?"
"Oh no! Queen Maiali passed away! Mallaidh says that she and Ionátan had to move up their wedding. She heard that mother is sick and sends get well wishes to her. She says she was never ready to be queen, but is anyone ever ready?"
"Well, she was her parents' only daughter, so she could not have passed the torch onto someone else."
"She knows her people need her. The fate of Terebinthia is bound to the blood of the woman who sits on the throne. Without a woman, that nation is lost."
"I wonder if a born queen will ever sit on the throne of Narnia."
"It would be a nice thing to see."
What Aibhstín did not know was that a born queen would sit on the throne of Narnia someday.
Queen Ránallín's condition had worsened too much, as did Aibhistín's possible pregnancy symptoms. The court physician, Daragh, was having trouble tending to both Queen Ránallín and Abhistín.
"The centaurs will have to look over your mother for right now, your highness."
"I'm certain she would be fine with that."
The physician examined her, and the symptoms were consistent with pregnancy.
"Congratulations, your highness. You are indeed with child."
Aibhistín wondered if it would be from this child that the defeaters of the White Witch would be descended from. And even if not, she was excited to become a mother. She also wondered if Aslan knew already.
Queen Ránallín did not recover from her sickness, and she passed away. Aslan came back in time for her funeral and for Aibhistín to tell him her news.