The Knight

[shadowoftheheart]

"My Queen," Fiona spoke up, with surprising boldness, "Isabelle is sick with worry. And she is sick from the schedule her father has forced upon her. She is afraid that she is ill, and it is making her ill."

Isabelle smiled at her servent, taking her hand firmly. She looked back to her mother.

"It ... it is true, mother."

 

[Aliyahlovinsex]

Jezebel's eyes took in the servant girl, Fiona, sharply, as she spoke so boldly. Her eyes then returned to her daughter lingering on her belly, before she spoke.

"My darling, we will have the court physician's take a look at you, if you wish. As far as your father...," she paused. "I have already spoken several times with Roland. He has assured me that soon, these meetings will be done with." The queen rubbed her world-weary brow before continuing. "I will talk to him again, however. If you are indeed with child, he should understand the need for slowness, and rest.

 

[shadowoftheheart]

Isabelle's eyes close, but she looks much more relaxed now.

"Thank you, mother. I ... would like a doctor to examine me ... so ... I am sure. And please, tell father that ... that I need more rest. Oh, but don't tell Rose! I want to tell her myself!"

 

[Aliyahlovinsex]

Jezebel smiled at the princess. "Go, child. I will take care of your father. Go and tell Rose the good news, and be well." She lightly caressed Isabelle's face, the way she had done when the princess was younger. "When you have shared your news with Rose, return to me, and we will visit the physician together."

 

[shadowoftheheart]

Isabelle smiles widely, and hugs her mother tightly.

"Thank you. I feel much better already. I will go tell her, and then return!"

She stood, with Fiona's help, and began to move toward the door....

 

[Sky Jade]

Rose was enjoying the hot bath when she heard a voice from the doorway, speaking softly as it came closer.

"I came to see how my Mistress was doing. in need of any "special" treatment?"

Rose opened her eyes and glanced over her shoulder to see Gabriella a few feet away. Rose rolled her eyes for a moment before laying back once more.

"I am just fine Gabriella, and I don't need any special treatment. As you can see I'm trying to relax while I can. I am not really sure what the King has planned next."

Gabriella pouted as she kneeled next to the large pool.

"Let me at let massage your shoulders Mistress."

"Fine, you can massage my shoulders."

Rose shifted forward a bit as Gabriella reached out and began massaging her Mistress. She started along her neck, moving gently over her shoulders. Rose mmed a little, feeling the tension melt away beneath her servant's talented fingers. She leaned forward more, letting Gabreilla get along her back. After a while while she motioned for Gabreilla to get her a towel.

After drying off, she put on a green floor length dress. It hugged her curves modestly, the sleeves stopping just below her elbows. She sat down on a nearby stool, letting Gabriella braid her now shoulder length hair.

 

[shadowoftheheart]

Isabelle went to the royal bath, with Fiona's help, and stopped at the door. She could hear Gabriella's voice within. Isabelle had a brief and unreasonable twinge of jealousy ... but reminded herself Gabriella was only a sevent, just as Fiona was to her. Still, she didn't entirely trust Gabriella ....

She knocked on the door to the bath.

"Rose, love? May I ... come in, so we can ... talk?"

Of course, she could have simply gone in. She was, after all, the princess and heir apparent to the throne. She could do just about anything she wanted. She respected Rose, however, and wanted her wife to have privacy, time apart, time to relax.

 

[Sky Jade]

Rose smiled as she heard her wife's voice through the door. She shooed Gabriella away, who gave a pout, before calling out.

"Of course love, please come in."

Gabriella moved to wait at the edge of the bath, trailing her fingers lightly through the warm water.

 

[shadowoftheheart]

Isabelle smiled brightly, and entered the bath. Though she had an expression of joy and love, her face was wan and pale, and it was clear that her strength was waning.

She walked over to and knelt beside Rose, resting her hands in Rose's lap.

"Fiona. Gabriella. If you could please excuse us for the moment?"

Her gaze remained on her wife's lovely face. She had good news to tell her, and though she was feeling poorly, felt buoyed by that news ....

 

[Sky Jade]

Rose smiled as her wife entered, though she did have a look of concern upon her face for her love. She placed her hands over Isabelle's hands as they were rested in her lap.

Gabriella looked up at Isabelle asked her and Fiona to leave, nodding softly. She stood up carefully, shaking the water off of her fingers. Rose was too focused on her wife to notice that as Gabriella passed Fiona, Gabriella leaned over and gave Fiona a light kiss on her cheek, getting a deep blush and deep intake of breath. Gabriella just walked out with a little smile on her face.

 

[shadowoftheheart]

Fiona followed Gabrielle out sheepishly, still blushing,which Isabelle also did not notice.

When they were gone, Isabelle sighed and beamed happily.

"Love, my wife, my Lady Knight Rose. I have talked to my mother. We know why I am feeling poorly. Yes my father's schedule for us is iinhuman. But, there is more. Much more. Rose, you have given me a gift, a thing greater than any I have ever been given. Through our love, for each other ... I am bearing your child. I am pregnant, Rose. Now, I have yet to see the royal physicians ... but I know it, and my mother knows it. We ... we are going to be parents!"

Isabelle took in a deep breath, holding it. She was a little afraid of what Rose's reaction would be ....

 

[Sky Jade]

Rose was quiet for a moment,slowly taking in what her wife said. After a moment she took Isabelle's hands squeezed them gently, bringing them up to kiss the back of both of them. She smiled deeply and leaned down, kissing the top of her head.

"That is wonderful news to hear love. I am so happy for you, for us. I hope that it is very true love."

She giggled and smiled.

"Go and see the physican to make sure the news is true."

in the hallway, Gabriella looked around for a few moments, seeing the hallway was cleared. She stopped for a moment to let Fiona pass her. As Fiona did, Gabreilla reached out and gave Fiona's little rear a soft squeezeand giggled before she went off down a side passage. Fiona seemed very embarrassed, blushing even more as she just stood in the hallway waiting for her Mistress to come out.

 

[shadowoftheheart]

"That is wonderful news to hear love. I am so happy for you, for us. I hope that it is very true love."

Isabelle smiled at Rose's words, sighing softly at the touch of Rose's lips to her hands, the warmth and the love she felt in the kiss she placed on Isabelle's forehead. Rose giggled, and Isabelle's head turned to one side in curiosity at her reaction.

"Go and see the physican to make sure the news is true."

"I will love! Oh, and I hope it is. If I am simply ill ..."

She bit back the rest of her words. If she wasn't pregnant, something was severely wrong. Terror suddenly gripped her, and she shuddered. She realized that even if she were pegnant, her fatigue and her weakness in this early stage was not a good sign.

She embraced Rose tightly, nearly knocking her over with the suddenness of her hug.

"Oh love. I'm scared. I ... almost don't want to know. Oh my love ... But I will go. Wish me luck."

She held onto Rose for several more moments, before releasing her with equal abruptness, and leaving the room swiftly, hot tears streaming down her cheeks ....

 

[Sky Jade]

Rose managed to catch herself despite the suddenness of the hug. She returned it gently, giving her love a kiss on the cheek.

"Everything will be ok love. Good luck."

She sighed softly for a moment as her wife pulled away from her and left the Bath. Rose stood there a few moments trying to figure things how to do when she realized she still needed to take care of Malcolm and his actions from before. She shook her head softly before she left the bath by a different door, heading to the dungeon.

 

[Aliyahlovinsex]

Jezebel hurried down the hall towards the quarters of the court physician. Her manservant Edward followed, holding the trail of her flowing dress in his hands.

"My Queen, may I ask what the urgency of your call is?" She smiled. The whole court waited anxiously for some news of the two young lovers, wondering what would become of them. If she told Edward what was going on, no doubt the whole court would be abuzz with the news before supper.

"Isabelle is sick, Edward. She may have contracted an illness and I wish for the good doctor to examine her; nothing more, nothing less." She could tell that he was not satisfied with the answer.

They arrived in good time at the doctor's chambers and after knocking, Jezebel commanded Edward to stay outside.

Her hand pushed open the door and her eyes came to rest on the wizened doctor who stood in the middle of his chamber, no doubt expecting her call. He bowed and she made an impatient huffing noise.

"Good doctor, I must ask that the contents of our conversation and later events remain absolute secret for now." She did not have time to waste; her daughter needed help now. "I shall know if you have opened your mouth and spilled this secret which I am about to reveal to you," she added threateningly.

"My lady, I would not, for all the gold in the world, betray your confidence."

"Very good." She smiled hesitantly and then continued. "My daughter needs to see you. It would appear she is with child." The queen blurted the words hurriedly, needing to return to her chamber.

The physician's face remained calm, but she could see the light of excitement shining in his eyes. It had been a time since he had received a patient of such high importance.

"I will attend to her."

The queen nodded and prepared to leave. "Remember our agreement." She swept from the room, and down the hall, leaving Edward with little time to keep up.

Once safely within her chamber, she relaxed. She had noticed no one on her short trip, and did not think that anyone had noticed her. She did not want the news to spread, if Rose and Isabelle were not prepared to announce it.

Sighing, she relaxed momentarily on the couch, awaiting Isabelle's return, and avoiding Edward's questioning glances.

 

[shadowoftheheart]

Fiona held her mistress' hands tightly while she rushed back to her mother's chambers. She was deeply concerned for her mistress. It had only been a month, or a little over, since she had been given as a servent to Isabelle, but in that short time she had come to love her deeply. She knew exactly what was wrong: The morning nausea, her missed flow, her fatique, mood swings ... all were familiar signs to the woman that had so quickly learnt what Isabelle's moods and rhythms were. In fact, it was Fiona that had commented when the time for Isabella's flow of blood came and past.

She knew also of her mistress' magic. The secret that Isabelle had yet kept from her wife, because first their honeymoon, then politics, and now her pregnancy had all interrupted her from the subject being breached, she had told to her servent. Fiona helped her practice the spells she had, and agreed when time was once more theirs, to help her enter the Wizard's chamber, and copy spells from the massive tomes to parchment or paper.

Fiona did not tell her mistress about Gabriella's flirtatiousness. She was not certain what status the servents of the Royal Couple had, with one another or anyone else, but she didn't want to risk her mistress' displeasure either by seeming to welcome or to deny Gabriella's advances.

When they arrived back at Queen Jezebel's chambers, Fiona helped steady her mistress as she knocked on the door.

"Mother? I am back."

Fiona sighed softly. She did not know what a new baby would mean, but she suspected that the four of them, Gabriella and Fiona just as Rose and Isabella, would find themselves with no more free time than the current Political Manipulations of King Roland left them ....

 

[Sky Jade]

Gabreilla had disappeared down a corridor, but it was only out of sight of the princess and Fiona. She was excited for Her Mistress and her wife, but she had other things on her mind. She watched ISabelle and Fiona for a few moments before following after them. She knew that Rose would call her being annoying, but she didn't care. She might like to cause Rose a little trouble from time to time, but she respected her very much.

Thinking on a hunch, she took a different passage to the Queen's chamber. She arrived there just after Fiona and Isabelle did. She curtisied to the princess for a moment, giving Fiona a sly wink when ISabelle looked towards the door for a moment.

"Mistress, I was hoping it wouldn't be too much trouble to ask if I could use Fiona's help with a few chores."

 

[shadowoftheheart]

"Mistress, I was hoping it wouldn't be too much trouble to ask if I could use Fiona's help with a few chores."

Isabelle glanced at her servent. She frowned, and looked back to Gabriella.

"Well, my mother will see me shortly. I don't believe I will require Fiona's assistance. Fiona, mind yourself. You are my representative remember: What you do reflects well, or poorly, upon me."

Fiona shifted her weight uncofortably, looking expectantly at Gabriella.

"Yes Ma'am."

She walked over to Gabriella, watching her mistress carefully to make sure she was steady. Isabelle opened the door and entered her mother's chambers, so Fiona knew she was alright.

"Gabriella, what chores do you need help with?"

 

[Sky Jade]

Gabriella thought for a moment before she smiled softly.

"Well, Mistress Rose left the royal bath. It's a little too big for me to clean alone."

She gave another curtsy to Isabelle for a moemnt before she made her way down the hallway. The peach colored gown she wore whispered softly as she walked, and she added a bit of a seductive sway to her movement. She glanced over her shoulder for a moment to make sure that Fiona was following after her.

 

[shadowoftheheart]

"Well, Mistress Rose left the royal bath. It's a little too big for me to clean alone."

Gabriella courtseyed again to Isabelle, and though she had never insisted that she do so, Fiona did so as well, as though she feared being shown up in front of her mistress. She watched Isabelle for another moment, then turned to see Gabriella already moving off down the hall. When she looked back, Fiona's eyes went wide and she scampered off after her.

Fiona looked at Gabriella's swaying body, and found herself staring. A male servent passed by and smirked at Fiona as he passed. She blushed, and focused on the hallway in front of them....

 

[Sky Jade]

Gaberiella nodded to the male servent who passed them by, but her attention was more focused on Fiona. OPening the door for her, she let the other girl go in first. As Fiona passed by her, she reached out and gave the girl's sweet tush a quick squeeze.

"We better change into more suitable cleaning outfits."

She closed the door behind her, locking it with a soft click.

 

[shadowoftheheart]

Fiona slowly walked through the door that Gabriella had opened for her, and then Yelp!ed as Gabriella grabbed and squeezed her rear.

"We better change into more suitable cleaning outfits."

Fiona nodded, with an uncertian look on her face. Her eyes went wide when she saw Gabriella lock the door to the baths.

"Umm... do you ... have to do that? Umm ... if we're just ... cleaning ...??"

She rubbed her rear gently, starting to feel that Gabriella might have had an intention other than cleaning the baths ....

 

[Sky Jade]

"Well, we wouldn't want anyone to come in and mess things up until we are done, now would we?"

Gaberiella giggled for a moemnt for a moment before she moved to the servent's area. She slipped her dress off and hung it up. She grabbed a white slip and pulled it on before grabbing a few rags. She made her way over to the bath and began to scrub along the edge slowly.

 

[shadowoftheheart]

Fiona, frowned but nodded. That made sense.

Like Gabriella, she exchanged her dress for a slip, grabbing rags and went to the opposite side of the pool where she scrubbed vigorously and quickly, clearly focusing on the work at hand....

 

[Sky Jade]

Gaberiella continued to cleanalong the bath edge, though she did watch Fiona every few moments. She smiled wickedly for a moment and reached her hand down into the warm water. She cupped her hand and then threw it over at Fiona, getting her wet. She giggled for a moment before continuing to scrub, making her way over towards Fiona.

"The water is so nice and warm."