AH! Okay I have a goal and that is to finish this story by the end of the year, and I am going to give it my best shot!

This chapter is really loooooong but I thought it was only right for making you guys wait so long.

Expect another chapter in a week or two, pinky promise!

Thanks for the reviews! They keep me honest and motivate me to not slack off so much.

Chapter 40

I tried my best to keep my back straight but the throne was ridiculously uncomfortable. I supposed queens did not really use theirs much, no point in making them comfortable.

I had glued a smile on my face as the lords were announced and took their respective spots in the throne room.

Some western lords had requested a meeting and Newt had agreed.

I hadn't seen him since the morning.

I squeezed my eyes tight to remove any image from the night before, it haunted me

Not in a bad way, but in a…. I can't believe that happened way.

I didn't know the reason for the meeting but some of the lords seemed either grim or slightly annoyed.

I wondered if it had anything to do with my performance during Newts recovery.

The anxiety started to breed in my stomach.

It was short lived, however. The royal scepter was pounded into the marble floor and the throne room doors were thrown open

I pressed my lips together and nervously waited for his entrance.

"His Majesty King Newt, approaches"

The lords quieted down and turned to face the doors. I stood and prepared myself to curtsey. I hadn't done it in a while, a part of me feared, I had forgotten how.

Newt had a pleasant look on his face, confident and relaxed. Much different from what it had been days prior.

I bent for my curtsey impatiently, I wouldn't be able to stand until Newt took my hand.

Britannican protocol was such a headache.

It felt like ages before Newt crossed the short distance and took my hand to pull me up. I searched for his eyes as I stood. The firmness of his hand steadying me.

There was a glimmer in them, the only physical sign of the new secret bond we shared.

I sat back in the uncomfortable throne and tried to slow my heartbeat.

"Lords you may approach the throne." Newts voice carried across the room, his authority calling everyone to attention.

An older lord I had never seen before approached us.

He walked slow but purposefully.

"Your majesty, I have something I would like to discuss."

Newt nodded his head and the Lord came only a few feet before the steps that led to the throne.

"Your Majesty, my family received a missive detailing the horror that occurred at the Hillshire Boarding school. Not only was my family affected but so were many of the other noble families, some of us have lost the heirs to our titles. The law of the land states that when an heir is missing the crown absorbs the land and appoints the title to a worthy candidate. Many of us would lose our statehood, leaving our wives and children destitute. I am requesting the crown to reconsider their stance and show restraint in our time of need"

Many of the lords echoed their agreements loudly.

Newt waited patiently until the Lords quieted down. The pleasant look from before never leaving his face.

"Lord Weston, the crown has no plans nor will have any plans of absorbing any new lands. My council and I have decided to allow each of the affected families to pick a suitable heir and propose their appointment to the health council. If no deficit is found, your appointment shall be your new heir. The crown sees no need to add more pain to an already dire situation."

Lord Weston bowed his head. The lords grumbled as an indistinct mob until another lord stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, with your permission to approach, I would like to state that even though we are grateful for this agreement. We want answers for the atrocity that occurred. How is it possible that the boarding school allowed our sons to be slaughtered? How is it possible we were only notified of this a fortnight after it occurred?"

Newt adjusted himself in his throne, leaning to one side before he spoke.

"Lord Harrington your qualms are duly noted. The Crown has sent out a task force to investigate. We were uninformed of the situation and sent the missive outs when we discovered the events that sadly occurred. I can assure you we will be forthcoming once we have an understanding of what happened."

Lord Harrington took an apprehensive breath before continuing.

"Your majesty I cannot stress enough the," Lord Harrington struggled to find the words " the urgency of this situation. There must be justice for this atrocity."

Newt nodded along with the lord in reassurance "Lord Harington, I can assure you that the crown is committed to bringing justice to this situation. Some of our best military leaders and experienced council members are ardently working to rectify this situation. I am personally overseeing this situation."

There were more grumbles and dissent.

The lord shifted and murmured amongst themselves. Newts reassurance wasn't working.

Before I could chicken out, I spoke.

"My Lords, I want you to know that the crown shares your deep sadness over this matter. This Saturday during the coming out ball, we have prepared a small ceremony to honor those who have sadly passed away. The crown will also be offering monetary gifts to the families affected to help with the search of a new heir. We know how the fees for the health council can be steep."

The room was silent and I felt my stomach clench in dread. What had I done?

Lord Harrington stared at me for what felt like an eternity before speaking.

"Your majesty your graciousness is deeply appreciated. Honoring our lost sons brings us great comfort."

I could feel Newt's eyes bore into me.

Another Lord left the throng and approached.

"Your majesties, I would like to broach another matter if possible."

Lord Harrington bowed and backed away, I let out a breath of relief, the dead heirs would not haunt us at the moment.

"We are all very overjoyed that after the deep offense that Aurubia portrayed by attempting to attack us that a peaceful solution was found through the marriage of Princess Rosemary, however, another issue is posed. With no imminent heir," the lord glanced at me "we fear that the hereditary line has become vulnerable. Count Zart passed away and any children Princess Rosemary has will be heirs to Aurubia and not to Britannica. Does the crown have a plan in place?"

I couldn't help but look at Newt, the question of the millennia had just been asked.

Newt had narrowed his eyes and his lips were pressed tightly together.

"Lord Taren we understand your concern but I am I can assure you I am in perfect health and so is my wife. In due time, there will be an heir to the Britannican throne."

Lord Taren wasn't done. "Your majesty, as much as we all hope for a new heir the traditional way. One cannot help but worry. With the marriage of Princess Rosemary, the lineage is vulnerable and if a great tragedy were to occur," Lord Taren was interrupted by outraged gasps "if the unthinkable were to occur," he continued once he room quieted "the unrest would cause unfathomable damage to our great nation."

I glanced at Newt once more, his face revealed little but his shoulders were pressed back tightly.

"Lord Taren we are fully aware of the circumstances and are taking measures to solidify our hereditary line." Newts response was short but his tone kept steady.

If the lords got a rise out of him, he would lose authority.

I bit my tongue. I could only speak out so much, especially in such a formal event.

Lord Taren looked like he had more to say but decided against it, he bowed his head and melted back into the rows of lords.

"Now if there are not others matters to discuss, I would like to broach the current tariffs on the southern region….."

My back ached and I was more than eager to stand when all the lords finally left the throne room.

Newt was still on his throne, his brow was deeply furrowed, and he was biting his lip in what appeared to be a rather painful way.

I didn't know if to disturb him or not. I hated when someone interrupted my musings.

I decided to stretch while I waited for him speak. I raised my hands over my head and interlocked my arms. My back would make me pay for all that sitting.

I was in the middle of attempting to reach for my toes, my corset resisting the effort, when Newt finally spoke.

"We need to be more prepared for these council meetings. There were moments there where I had no notion of what was about to be said." Newt was looking down at his hands.

I frowned.

"I think we did an all right job. Considering its not like with parliament. The lords can just blurt out whatever qualm they have."

Newt rubbed his forehead and slumped on the throne. "With parliament its more tedious protocol but all topics are submitted a week before. I at least know what I am going to be asked."

I couldn't help but rock on my feet. Newt had the air of man being crushed by a wooden mast.

"All right then, up you go, we are not going to spend all day cooped up in here."

Newt shook his head "No, we have to prepare for tomorrows hearing with parliament. And then Councilor Ava wants us review Rosemary's wedding contract-"

"We will have time for all that! Now get up and let's go, its spring and the horses in the stables are dying for some exercise."

I couldn't help the laugh that continuously escaped me.

Newt and I kept racing the horses, the beasts were eager to be outside. Being cooped up all winter had them bursting with energy.

The air wasn't as crisp as I expected it to be but I supposed Britannica was in the south. I had felt a film of sweat start to coat my back.

I stopped my horse and waited for Newt to catch up.

"Your nation is unseasonably warm. It is only mid spring and I am covered in sweat."

The light in Newts eye had returned along with his smile.

"Spring is temperamental here, tomorrow we will probably be freezing so lets enjoy the warmth and follow me"

Newt clipped his rein and headed down the ill we had been cavorting on.

I didn't know how far we were from the palace, we had wandered past the royal woods and an expansive field. The hill we were trotting on led towards a tree line.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath; there was something about the wind and the sun on my face I had dearly missed.

I could hear a stream up ahead.

Newt stopped his horse and hoped off; He tied it to tree close enough to the stream where the horse could drink. I followed suit.

"I think we need to cool off your majesty." Newt said with a smirk. He started to disrobe and I felt my heart jump to my throat.

Images of the night before invaded my brain violently.

I had to turn to keep the heat on my face hidden.

I discarded the cape I had on and started working on my boots.

We hadn't talked about what we had done the night before, it had been…not like I thought it would be.

There was no agonizing pain or blood. It had been quite the opposite of that, in reality. It had felt like I had been drenched in warm honey. We had fallen asleep shortly after, with little words exchanged.

It would happen again, it had to. The kingdoms stability depended on an heir.

Once I was down to my slip, I finally turned; Newt was already in the stream

He was dipping his head in and out.

I had braced myself for the shock of cold water, but rather was greeted by water that verged on almost too hot.

"Is this a hot spring Newt?" I called out as I slowly submerged myself.

Newt turned from his wading, "Not quite, there are some hot springs up a ravine but the horses can't climb the rock. This water is just runoff."

The water relaxed my muscles and I allowed myself to float on my back once I was deep enough.

"I thought we were supposed to be cooling off."

Newt swam closer to me and I turned my head to see him.

"Couldn't waste this opportunity, its been ages since I've been out here."

"Is this where you bring all your conquests?" I asked, letting my feet sink so I could turn and fully face Newt.

He had rolled his eyes at me "No, I would come here with my family when my father was still alive. We haven't been here since he passed."

"Do you miss him?"

"At times, I wish I could ask for his advice, but we stopped being close when I went to boarding school."

"Whys that?"

Newt had a leaf on his cheek and I reached out to wipe it off.

"We disagreed on the treatment of the contaminated. You know the usual cruelty of the old law."

Newt caught my hand after I had cleared his cheek and kissed my knuckles slowly.

"That's something you and I could do, change to old law." I said, pulling my hand free to run it through his hair.

There was something about his hair that I couldn't resist.

Newt leaned into my touch.

"Lets. Just as soon we end our current troubles."

I pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.

Under the water, I felt Newt reach out and pull me by the waist.

"You're such a tease, you know that?"

I was going to push him away but the bank underneath my feet did not offer enough stability.

"I am not!" I protested, moving my head from side to side, avoiding the kiss Newt was trying to plant.

We spent what felt like too short of a time enjoying the stream and each other. It wasn't long before time forced us to return to the palace.

My hair and parts of my clothes were still wet when walked in to the tearoom Councilor Ava was waiting in.

Antonietta gave us a disappointed look and shook her head slightly.

I was distracted by Rosemary who was daintily sat on a chair. She was dressed as usual, her hair coiffed to perfection but her eyes betrayed her. They were rimmed red and her nose was still flushed.

Someone must have told her of her guards disappearance.

The lightness I had entered with slowly started to be overweighed.

"We've been waiting for you two, I hope you realize that you're twenty minutes late." Ava's annoyance projected itself as she spread the scrolls on the table in the middle of the room.

Newt let out a loud and dejected sigh. "Our apologies, we had some matters to attend to."

Newt gave me a sly look before beginning to sift through the documents.

I came up next to him and picked up another scroll. It was a long list of items Rosemary was going to be expected to receive.

Councilor Ava stood across from Newt and I, both hands spread out on the table.

"Now based on the meeting today with the council, there is uneasiness over this union. It leaves the Isaac line vulnerable. You two need and I cannot stress this enough, produce an heir. "

I felt my body freeze.

"It will stop many issues from arising. It will calm the lords, stop the pressure from the parliament, and ease the masses. This cannot be put off any longer."

I glanced at Newt. He usually handled this particular complaint.

Newt kept the same relaxed composure from before.

"Councilor Ava we understand the importance but I do not need to remind you, the councilor of health, that a pregnancy is a natural event that cannot be easily controlled."

Antonietta finally interjected "But there are measures that can be taken to speed the process along, now I have created a fertility calendar and I've instructed the kitchens to modify your meals. Roan darling you are going to need to step back from matters of state, your body needs as much rest and little stress. An heir is our utmost priority."

Antonietta had just vocalized my worst nightmare.

However, Newt had other plans.

"Absolutely not. Roan is not only the queen but my wife as well. I need her active participation.

The urge to hug him almost overtook me.

"Newt we need an heir, we both know that out of all the princesses you could have married, we picked Roan for a very specific reason. She is our best chance."

Hmmmm. I had heard Antonietta say this before but never been privy to her reasoning.

"And what reason might that be?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at Antonietta.

She rolled her eyes and let out an exhausted sigh.

"Of course he hasn't told you, my children's blood might be pure buts its weak. Their father's chronic illness might be hereditary. I had some trusted individuals test the blood of all the eligible princesses. You my darling are not only the most fertile but also the healthiest. All that running around you do I suppose."

Tested? When did she test me?

"What do you mean you had us tested?" I felt a slight panic rise in my chest.

"She sent spies to all the castles and had them collect blood tests." Newt said, flatly. "Mother we don't know if Rosemary or I have my father's illness."

"But you might! And it might take you at any moment, so the sooner we have an heir the better."

I rolled the piece of paper in my palms. Of course, it all made sense now.

The rushed marriage, their insistence to have an heir. I couldn't blame Antonietta but I could be angry.

When did she send spies? And why hadn't Newt told me?

I turned in my chair to look at him.

"How did your mother get spies to steal my blood? How does one even go about that?"

Newt had been expecting my questions, he set down his quill and looked up at me.

"I'm not quite sure about that part; it was definitely one of the more insane thing she has planned. I had wanted to tell you but I wasn't sure how. I came close a couple times but we always seemed to have some sort of argument before I did."

I could capitalize on this moment.

"Well if she wanted us to have an heir so bad, why was she conspiring to make Isabelle your mistress? Wouldn't that deter you?"

Newt shrugged. "I suppose she was trying to make me happy. Everyone thought we were going to marry."

Uneasiness started to spread in my chest.

"Did you love Isabelle?"

Newt pursed his lips before answering but he met my eyes. I think when we were younger and in boarding school I did, but she changed when we returned to court. I didn't like who she became."

Neither did I.

"I kept it up because I wasn't sure what else I was supposed to do. Rejecting her out right would leave her without a prospect, I could not do that to her, we were childhood friends."

I was about to speak but Newt had a torrent of words for me.

"She had this boy back in the boarding school she was seeing behind my back, he was of a lower class; I always knew she loved him more. For some reason, Teresa tattled to the health council and they took him away. I didn't want her to be punished so I kept appearances. I liked her enough at the time but its different with you. I don't feel forced or weighed down. Its an eagerness to see you I can't control, never felt that before."

I let out a breath I had not realized I had been holding.

"Isabelle made is seem deeper than that. She told me you would have her wait in your chambers."

Newt let out a loud and fully amused laugh. "Maybe years ago, I hadn't see her for a while until our engagement was announced. Couldn't shake her for a while after that."

"Do you remember she slapped me?" I asked.

"As if it had been yesterday, she was worried for her brother's safety I suppose."

"Indeed, now come to bed your majesty." I said standing from my chair.

Newt frowned "I still have these documents to read before bed. I see parliament first thing in the morning. And you just milked me for information, with nothing in return."

I would lose my nerve if I weren't more clear with my intentions.

I turned to face him fully, not breaking eye contact.

"Newt. You should come to bed."

It took him what felt like an eternity before the understood.

Newt leaned back in his chair.

"For what purpose your majesty?" He was smirking, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Never mind then." I said, turning away. I would not play into his game. He needed an heir more than I did.

"Wait! Wait! Wait!" I heard Newt scramble from his desk but I ignored him and pulled the sheets of the bed back.

"Offer is rescinded. I'm going to bed."

Newt climbed over the bed to where I was already settled in.

"I beg you to reconsider your majesty, you see I am a simple man who simply wanted to cofirm-"

I held up a hand to stop him.

"I severely doubt that, now blow out the candles and come back quickly so we can put this heir business to rest."

The chill of the night on my bare skin was what woke me, I looked around for my nightgown but couldn't see where Newt had tossed it.

Newt was sleeping on his side; his bare back was illuminated by the dim light of the moon.

The nagging feeling from the stream made an appearance. Not talking about our new found night time activity was going to haunt me.

I didn't want to wake him, he needed his rest.

Thankfully, I did not have to.

As if summoned, Newt turned to face me, he was wide awake.

"Couldn't sleep?" Newt said, propping himself on his elbow.

"Newt…is it…am I…," This was wretched "am I doing what I am supposed to?

Newt gave me a confused look.

"When we…well you know."

A small smile appeared on Newts face.

"Love, you're not supposed to do anything. If you're asking if I have any complaints, I don't."

He didn't understand what I was asking, and I hadn't really asked it either.

I took a deep breath before propping myself on my elbows.

"What I mean….its just that you've been with others and I….I haven't. Im scared that due to my inexperience, I don't measure up."

Newt looked at me softly before answering "You've no idea do you?"

Slight annoyance started to brim

"Roan I'm so lost in love with you that just laying here, is enough for me. Hell, just sitting next to you in a carriage was enough for a while.

I wanted to roll under the sheets and out a window.

"Then its all right then?"

Newt groaned and threw his head back on the pillow.

"Yes, woman, its more than all right."

I sat up to look at him, he was staring up at the ceiling.

"Lets have another go at it then, remember it's a matter of priority for the kingdom."

Newt looked sideways at me "Again? Right now? Tell me something first, do you only want to do this because we need to or because you want to?"

I'd never been really good at lying.

"Newt.

"No, no, no. I'm always pledging myself to you but I'm starting to wonder if you even like me anymore."

I groaned and threw my head back.

"What on earth do you mean?"

"I don't know Roan you kiss me, you bed me but not a single word of appreciation, I'm starting to feel used you know."

I knew he was joking but it still annoyed me.

I clutched the blanket to my chest and sat up on my haunches.

"Why on earth would I tell you, that you are the very first face I search for? Or that I count down how many meetings you have until I can see you. Do you know how fast it would go to your head if I told you, my heart jumps every time you walk in a room? It would be absolutely ridiculous."

Newt was fighting a smile. "You're absolutely right. I would be insufferable if I knew all that. "

"Indeed so it's best we keep it from you."

Newt reached out his hand and tugged lightly on the blanket I was using to shield myself.

"All right, well get over here your majesty. We have a very serious matter of state to attend to."