Dorian paced the floor of the council room as one of the new Lords of Adarland began his speech about something to do with land and getting the Kingdom settled again. He was only listening enough to know when a nod of the head or a hum of contemplation were needed to keep the meeting going.

He was distracted picking at a piece of mud crusted to the wall when there was a knock on the door and a servant came in bearing a message. His heart raced and then immediately plummeted as the message was delivered to Chaol.

His friend opened the note scanned it quickly and dismissed the messenger. The Hand to the King stood and casually walked the room like he was stretching his legs. As he passed Dorian, she slipped him the message continuing around back to his seat like nothing had happened.

Dorian opened the message.

Chaol,

I am accompanying Manon down to visit her Wyvern and to aid her in her early laboring process. She is handling the labor well so far. I'm sure His Royal Highness is concerned for his wife. Please assure him that Manon is doing well and that he need not worry.

Yrene

Dorian felt relieved that Manon was not alone, and he was able to focus better on the meeting after that. He shot Chaol a thankful glance and reclaimed his seat at the table.

When the meeting was over, he did not linger to chat with the Lords. He went directly to his and Manon's chambers. As he entered the sitting area, he saw Yrene tidying up the small table that they had sat at this morning.

"Oh good," the healer smiled at him, "I was just about to send for you."

"What's going on?" he asked.

"She's exhausted," the healer told him, "You know she's been laboring for almost two days now? She told me her labor started on her flight down from the Wastes. I can't imagine what that's like, riding a Wyvern while in labor.

"She's laying down in the room right now, she asked for you a few minutes ago. I'm going to give you two some time together, but I'll come back to check on her in a little while. I left a sleeping tonic on the side table if you can get her to take it, I think it would really help her rest before things get much more intense. And as always, just send for me if you need me before then." The healer excused herself.

When Dorian entered the bedroom, he had to pause and let his eyes adjust to the dark. He approached Manon's side of the bed quietly and knelt down in front of her. She had a pillow between her knees and a cool rag laid across her eyes. He could tell she was struggling to keep her breathing controlled. She was wearing nothing except for a band across her breasts, but her body was warm.

He placed his hand on her snow-white hair and kissed her forehead through the cool rag.

She extended her hand blindly and he took it, his other rubbing her thigh in slow motions. He could feel how tight her muscles were as her breath hitched. "Relax," he said gently as he continued to rub her thigh and hip.

"I'm so tired."

"I know," He kissed her hand that he still held, "Why don't you take this sleeping tonic that Yrene left? It will help you rest."

She was silent for a while before she answered, "I'm scared."

"Don't be scared, my love, I will be awake, and I will not leave you while you rest."

She nodded and he grabbed the tiny vial, unstopped it, and held it to her lips. She swallowed and reached for his hand again.

Her whole body grew tense again as she let out a low moan. He began rubbing her leg again and summoned his phantom hands to rub circles on her back. When the wave of pain had ceased, Manon was breathing slowly and calmly. Dorian left her side only for a second to climb into his side of the bed, light a small candle, and pick up the book he was in the middle of.

A few hours passed and Manon would sometimes let out one of those low moans while her body continued its work while she slept. His phantom hands never left her body. When he had almost finished his book, he heard a knock on the door to the sitting room. He had assumed that Yrene would just let herself back in considering the circumstances.

Tentatively he stood from the bed, Manon did not stir. He entered the sitting room and blinked at the light of the setting sun coming in the windows. When he opened the door, he was shocked to see, not Yrene, but his mother.

"What's wrong?" he asked her, still blinking at the brightness in the room.

"I came to ask you the same question." His mother had her hands on her hips, and she looked ready to argue. "Why weren't you at dinner?"

"Mother, this is a really bad time," he didn't know how to tell her what he needed to. She had nearly fainted at the thought of him marrying a witch, the thought of said witch bearing him a child might kill her right now.

He was relieved to see Yrene appear behind his mother in the doorway. "What is the meaning of this? Why is it a bad time?"

"Queen mother, if you would excuse me, I need to get in to see my patient." The healer pushed passed Georgina swiftly.

"Are you sick?" she asked rapidly assessing Dorian from head to toe. Before he could answer another low moan came from the dark bedroom. He looked to Yrene who flicked her head at the door, indicating that she would deal with his mother for him.

When he reentered the room Manon was still quiet but pretty soon, she started to stir. She had slept for a few hours now and Dorian was thankful for the tonic Yrene had provided.

He pulled the now warm rag off of her eyes and dipped it into a water bowl that he had chilled. Rubbing it over her face and down her arms.

"Dorian," She whimpered.

"Shh," he held her hand and kissed her temple, whispering close to her ear, "I'm here. I'm so glad you slept."

"Dorian," she grabbed the underside of her belly and pulled it in towards her, "something feels different."

"Okay, what do you want me to do?"

"I need to stand," she whispered through her pain as she tried pushing herself up to a sitting position. He assisted her and after she sat for a few seconds he helped her up by her elbows and did not let go. She was still letting him hold a lot of her weight.

Her breathing was erratic, "I need Yrene," she said urgently.

Dorian didn't not ask questions. He bellowed for the healer who he hoped was still in the sitting room and he prayed to whatever deity would listen that his mother was no longer in the room. He waited for the healer to appear as Manon stood more upright. Her eyes were still closed but her muscles weren't as tight.

Finally, Yrene entered the room, just as Manon muttered an expletive and looked down at her feet where a small puddle was forming.

"Oh good," Yrene said swiping a towel from a table he hadn't noticed before, full of blankets and bowls and supplies that she must have readied while he was out. Without hesitation she spread the towel beneath them and took up a place behind Manon.

The witch wrapped her arms around his neck and dropped her weight down again, nearly hanging off of him.

Manon let out a long moan that stopped abruptly as her breath hitched. "I need to push!" she said in a panic.