Lezard's Triumph

One foot after the other, Lenneth walked back and forth across the bedroom floor, a slow pace that was as restless as her thoughts. She moved without seeing her surroundings, long used to the bedroom and it's ornate furnishings. The lavish decorations, the finely woven tapestries held no joy for her, nor did they distract her from her problems, Lenneth biting down on her lip to keep from muttering out loud.

Pregnant! She shook her head as though that act of disbelief could keep it from being true. But Eir had run the test, redoing it several times to be sure, and each time the results were the same. She was pregnant, a state of being she was unsure of how it had come to pass. Lezard couldn't be the father, not of this child, not this soon. It was simply not enough time for her to be suffering the signs of early pregnancy from Lezard, even Gods with their advanced bodies couldn't produce a child this fast.

But who was the father? That was something she did not know, and it troubled her greatly. Lenneth frowned, trying to think back, to think of the time before Lezard had captured her. But it was all a blank state, her past uncertain, the memories blurred, jumbled together without any coherency to them. It was though her past had yet to be decided, waiting on something, waiting perhaps for the Lenneth of the present to act. From what sort of future would she come from? She just didn't know, and it made her want to scream.

Why can't I remember...? Lenneth thought, frustrated that the past was not yet set in stone. She knew Lezard's meddling would have an effect on time, but never did she imagine the magnitude to which it would occur. She wondered if Lezard suffered any gaps in his memory, wondered if he would even be troubled by it, or would he merely laugh it off, saying it was a sign of his new timeline taking hold.

It was easier for the Goddess to worry about the memory gaps, the potential for time paradox than to think about her more pressing problem. This pregnancy left her worried and fearful, uncertain about the child that she carried, about it's future. The question above all others that kept whispering in her ear was this. Did she even WANT this child? She feared the answer, feared she did not, Lenneth not wanting to bring a child, her child into a world that was so uncertain and mad. A world that was ruled by Lezard's whims, a world where she had given in to the necromancer.

Her pacing brought her before a mirror, a full length of glass set in a silver frame. Lenneth paused, staring critically at herself, wondering what others saw when they looked at her. She didn't see the mystical glow that was said to surround a woman with child, all she saw was her paleness, the tiredness in her eyes. Her hands touched her belly, stroking it almost nervously. Could the baby feel her touch? Her body turned to the side, Lenneth tugging at the waist of her clothing, pulling on it, trying to see what she would look like with an expanded belly. But the dress was too tight, Lenneth not getting more than an inch or so of material to pull away from her stomach.

I'll need new clothes. She thought. Something loose and flowing. She shook her head, fingers releasing their hold on the dress, her face frowning. She shouldn't be making plans, shouldn't be thinking like that when she didn't know if she wanted to keep this baby. But would she be able to go through with the alternative? She shuddered, not wanting to even think on it, inwardly cursing herself for even thinking of harming such an innocent soul.

Even if I don't keep it, even if I don't raise it myself... Her thoughts began, Lenneth staring at her reflection. I mean to give birth to this child. Surprised realization was in her eyes, and she frowned shaking her head once more. With a loud curse, she moved away, resuming her endless pacing, her thoughts turning to Lezard and his reaction. She hadn't told him, begging Eir to keep her secret for just a little while longer. The Goddess of Healing had sighed, pledging her promise to Lenneth, but reminding her that she wouldn't be able to put off the telling for much longer.

She was still puzzling out how to tell Lezard, when the man himself appeared in the room, the taste of ether heavy on her tongue. "Lenneth!" He called out her name, anxious surprise sounding in his voice. "What are you doing out of bed? You should be resting!"

"I'm fine." Lenneth said, watching as he hurried to her side. "Really I am." His hands touched the sides of her waist, Lezard leaning in to plant a quick kiss on her cheek. She could feel him trying to move her, to guide her towards the bed, and with a reluctant sigh she let him walk her forward.

"Eir told me." He began, causing Lenneth to start with surprise.

"She told you?!" Lenneth said, her voice squeaking out in a higher pitch than normal.

"Yes." A nod from him. "She said bed rest would help keep the nausea at bay..." A stern look from Lezard, Lenneth biting back a relieved sigh. "You shouldn't be moving about so much...not in your condition." He lowered her to the bed, Lenneth perching on the edge of it, bemused.

"Perhaps you're right..." Lenneth said, ready to play along with whatever Eir had told him. "Perhaps all I need is some rest." She suddenly looked at him, surprised. "But why are you here Lezard? Shouldn't you be holding court at the moment?"

"Canceled it." He answered, the bed creaking as he sat down next to her. "I have more important things to worry about than a few God's squabbling!"

"I'm fine, really I am." Lenneth assured him once again. "You didn't have to do that."

"I wanted too." Lezard told her, smiling as he placed a hand on her knee. He gave a little squeeze, an attempt to reassure her with his touch. She glanced away from him, sighing.

"I suppose it'll give you a chance to catch up on your paperwork." Lenneth said, glancing at the pile that was spread across the writing desk. Lezard groaned, but nodded his head.

"Yes..." He started to stand up, when she reached out, catching him by his jacket sleeve.

"Lezard...?"

"Yes Lenneth?" He looked down at her, eyes curious.

"It's...it's nothing." She sighed, releasing her hold on him. He peered at her face, but didn't press the issue, moving away from the bed. Lenneth watched him, seeing him pull out a chair, and sit down at the desk. Watched him page through the papers, uncertain of where to begin. He conjured a feather quill and begin making notes, the room filling with the scritch scratch of the pen tip pressing down. She could see the transformation in him, the serious way he tackled the responsibilities that came with the title of being ruler of the Gods. And it made her wonder, made her think on how he would handle the responsibility of being a father.

"Lezard?"

"Hmmm?" His voice was distracted, the man engrossed as he read a page, quill still for the moment.

"Have you ever thought about the future?" asked Lenneth.

"All the time." came his answer. "It's what drove me after all...To ensure my future was with you."

"I mean beyond that." Lenneth said.

"What else could I possibly want aside from you by my side?" questioned Lezard, the pages in the ledger starting to turn.

Lenneth sighed, not entirely pleased with his answer. "You don't want anything more...you don't want...want a family?"

"You're all the family I need." She could hear the smile in his voice, the happiness that thought brought him.

"But what about...a baby? A son or a daughter?" She asked, fingers nervously pulling at her skirt. The rustle of paper stopped, Lezard pausing.

"A baby?" He asked, voice careful to remain neutral. Lezard turned, expression gaping as he gazed at her. Lenneth's fidgeting grew worse, the woman looking everywhere but at him. Lezard continued to stare at her, the silence unnatural and spanning for several minutes. At last he closed his mouth, licking his lips nervously. "You...want a baby?" Disbelief was in his voice, and she almost frowned to hear it.

"No...NO!!" She hastened to assure him. "I was just wondering is all."

"Lenneth...people...women don't just wonder about this sort of thing out of the blue." He was rising to stand, still staring at her. "Are you sure there isn't something more that you're not telling me?"

"No. I just...just wanted to know how you stand on the issue." lied Lenneth as he approached her.

"Well, I'll tell you..." Lezard said in a voice that implied she wouldn't like what he would have to say. "Children are...an inconvenience at best. They're a sap on time and energy. Oh, I see the necessity of them in regards to keeping a species alive, but..." He smiled then, shrugging his shoulders. "But fortunately we Gods do not need such things."

"Oh..." She said dully, but Lezard wasn't finished.

"Haven't you noticed Lenneth? How...happiness seems to wane when a child is involved? All those married couples were happy once, were so in love. But a child changes things...takes from it's parents." continued Lezard oblivious to the upset in Lenneth's eyes. "Love cannot thrive, cannot stay the same when a child is involved."

"But...the parents love their own child." Lenneth said slowly.

"At the expense of their love for each other!" Lezard stated. "The love is halved, it's..." He gestured as though trying to grasp hold of the right word.

"Don't you believe that a person can love more than one person?" asked Lenneth. "That one can love child and spouse equally?"

"No." Lezard said simply. "Lenneth...I would not have some child, even if it is half mine, stealing your attention away from me." He touched her then, stroking her hair over and over again.

"You'd be jealous of a baby..." She realized with a gasp. "But..."

"No buts!" Lezard cut her off in mid sentence. "I won't share you Lenneth, not even with our own child. I won't have you loving it when you cannot even do the same for me!" His look was possessive, his words stabbing her more strongly than if they had been knives. She stared at him, horror growing in her eyes, even as Lezard smiled down at her.

"Lenneth..." He was kneeling before her, hands now touching her face, keeping her head positioned so that they gazed into each other's eyes. "You don't need a baby. You have me, and I'll take care of you, see to all your needs. So please...think no more on the subject."

"I..." She blinked back tears, seeing Lezard frown.

"I've upset you." He said abruptly, letting go of her face.

"Just a little..." admitted Lenneth.

"I'm sorry for that, but it doesn't change the way I feel!" Lezard told her. "I've waited too long for you Lenneth. Waited and suffered to be with you, and I won't have some baby taking you away from me...not now, not ever." She was quiet, not knowing what to say to that, making him sigh in frustration. "Get some rest." He said at last, standing up. He pulled back the covers, urging her to slide in underneath them. She did so, voice stolen away for the moment, just staring at Lezard.

Sensing she needed to be alone with her thoughts, Lezard gave up trying to speak to her. He turned, moving back towards the desk and she watched him through a haze of tears. Watched him sit down and begin laboring over the paperwork. A sob almost escaped her then, Lenneth biting her lip to muffle it. Her hand went to her belly, Lenneth unconsciously caressing it, even as she thought, What am I going to do?

She looked away from Lezard, glancing around the room, her eyes landing on the mirror. Her reflection stared back at her, almost mocking her with the knowledge of her secret. Lenneth felt a mix of emotions, fear for the baby inside of her chief and foremost on her mind. He can't know. She thought to herself. Not yet..maybe not ever. It wasn't that she thought Lezard would hurt the baby, she didn't think he was that cruel. But Lenneth felt sure he wouldn't allow her to keep the child once it was born, visions of him tearing the newborn out of her arms playing through her mind.

Lenneth slumped against the pillows, still rubbing her belly. She tried to calm herself, wanting her mind free of fears and doubts so that she could start making plans for her baby's future. This is going to happen... She realized with a start. Whether Lezard wants it to or not, my baby will live...and I will see it be happy, one way or another. Now if she could only figure out how to accomplish that.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was not as easy as it looked, arranging a meeting to look accidental. There was plenty of factors to consider, memorizing of schedules, timing and witnesses. The location had to be chosen carefully, it couldn't appear that he had been waiting for his quarry, oh no. Loitering outside of Vingolf would be too suspicious, too convenient a spot for the meeting to occur. It would have to be somewhere busy, somewhere where his presence wouldn't be questioned, and the halls of Valhalla were just perfect for his plan.

And thus Loki paced, lurking around corners, ready to throw himself in front of Frei's path. Hours went by, but Loki was anything but persistent, walking up and down the hallways, his steps natural and aloof. Eventually his patience was rewarded, Loki hearing the familiar happy hum of the Goddess' voice as she walked, the girl singing softly under her breath.

A brief flicker of a smile on his face, Loki composed himself, hiding in the shadows. He listened to her footsteps draw closer and closer, and then he was on the move, dashing around the corner to crash into her. Frei let out a startled yelp, beginning to topple backward and he lashed out, his arms going around her waist to steady her. Frei's gloved hands were placed on his chest, the young Goddess gratefully holding onto him as she regained her balance. Her head lifted, and she gazed into his face, emotions playing out, going from relief to annoyance and then something more, something that could almost be the mark of friendship.

"LOKI!" exclaimed Frei, and she pushed herself out of his arms. "Don't you ever watch where you are going?" She glared at him, awaiting an apology.

He gave it to her, a smile on his face as he said, "I'm sorry Frei. You're right...I should pay more attention to my surroundings." The glare lessened in intensity, the young girl mollified by his words.

"Hmm..." She said. "No harm no foul done." She made a move as though to step around him, and he shifted to the right blocking her path. She frowned at him, annoyed. "Did you want something from me, Loki?" Frei asked, peering curiously at him.

"It's just...I haven't seen you in a while Frei." Loki began, his voice dripping oil as he tried to be his most charming. "I was wondering how you've been."

She blinked, surprised. "I'm fine..." She was shaking her head then, Frei sighing softly. "No...that's not entirely true. I could be better."

"Oh?" He tried to feign interest, to appear concerned. "Whatever could be the matter?"

"It's my sister Freya..." Frei's expression was one of sadness. "I worry about her future..." Loki made sympathetic noises, nodding his head in agreement. "Mortals live such a short time...they grow old and die. I...I don't want that to happen to her."

"It's a terrible thing..." Loki agreed. "This mortal business. Perhaps in a few years Lezard will calm down and restore her to her divinity."

Frei's eyes widened, shining with hope. "Do you really think so Loki?" She smiled at his nod, clasping her hands before her. "Oh I hope so too!"

Loki returned her smile, then asked, "And what about you...how are you dealing with your new responsibilities?" A loud exhalation of air was his answer, the young Goddess eager to get her problems off her chest. She talked and she talked until Loki's eyes nearly crossed, the man feigning interest all the while. Until at last Frei ran out of things to say, turning expectant eyes at him.

"Wow..." Loki said. "It sounds rough...I wish you all the luck with that. Perhaps you should ask Lord Lezard to assign some of the workload to someone else?"

"No!" Frei said, shaking her head. "I want to do my sister proud. If she could manage, and make it look so effortless, so can I."

"Yes...Freya was...talented when it came to her duties." Loki agreed. "I'm sure she will show that same devotion to her new charge. Lady Lenneth can only benefit from having Freya watch over her."

"...yes..." Frei said. "It is indeed an honor Lezard bestowed upon my sister, entrusting Lady Lenneth to her care."

"How is the Lady Lenneth?" asked Loki, keeping just the right amount of curiosity in his tone.

"Oh? Didn't you know?" A question to his, Frei looking eager to divulge the latest gossip. "She's sick."

"Sick?" echoed Loki, feigning shock. "But...how?"

"I don't know..." admitted Frei with a shrug of her shoulders. "But my sister is terribly worried. Lady Lenneth has been refusing to see Eir, leaving Freya at a loss on what to do."

"Hmm...perhaps she only needs to rest." suggested Loki, eyes intent on the young Goddess. "I'm sure the excitement of the last few days has merely gotten to her, overwhelmed her. After all..." Loki was fighting to keep the jealousy out of his voice. "It's not every day a sixth level Goddess becomes our Queen."

"Yes..."

"I'm sure Lezard is taking good care of her." added Loki. "Seeing to her every need."

"I guess so." Frei frowned. "Although..."

"Although?" prodded Loki when she fell silent.

"She spends almost all of her time in their room." complained Frei. "It's bound to be boring for her!" She sighed. "It's so stuffy in there, with no windows to let in fresh air...it's a stifling environment."

"Hmm...perhaps an excursion outside would benefit the Lady and her mysterious illness." Loki tried to sound neutral, to make it sound as though the thought had just occurred to him, and not one he had been thinking about for hours. Frei reacted to his words, eyes looking so hopeful, it forced Loki to stifle a laugh.

"Do you really think so?!" She exclaimed.

"Well...I'm no doctor..." He reminded her with a smile. "But how could anyone not benefit from breathing in the air of Asgard?"

Frei smiled, clasping her hands together. "You're right! Loki, thank you."

"Thank me? But why?" asked Loki.

"You've just given me a wonderful idea!" Frei went to move around him, and this time he let her, turning in place to watch her progress. "I'll see you later, all right? I simply must see Lady Lenneth at once!" Her braid bounced behind her as she all but ran, booted heels clicking hard against the marble floor. Loki watched her go, his grin spreading wider and wider.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Arngrim and Dallas were already seated in a corner of the tavern, their money laid out in shining piles, the glint of gold a tempting sight to all who looked their way. Rufus frowned, wondering why they were making such a show of their wealth, sneaking closer to their table. He saw cards in their hands, the two men hunched forward, staring intensely at the pieces of cardboard.

"Um...hey guys..." Rufus began, eyes shifting back and forth between the two men. "What's going on?" Arngrim merely grunted in reply, not tearing his eyes away from the cards in his hand. Dallas was similarly quiet, an intense study of the numbers he held before his face.

"..." Rufus was quiet, staring at the two, brow furrowed. "Are you...are you guys gambling?!" Arngrim held up a hand, finger raised for silence. His eyes locked onto Dallas', a challenging stare as he slowly laid out his cards. A pair of Queens and three eights was his hand, and Dallas' face grew paler to see them.

With a muted curse, Dallas threw his cards face down on the table, lips curling into a scowl as Arngrim let out a bark of triumphant laughter. "I win again!" Angrim grinned, reaching for the pile of gold laid out in the center of the table.

"Double or nothing!" Dallas said, his voice urgent and demanding. "Just one more game."

"Careful pretty boy...keep this up and you won't have any money left for your big start in Crell Monferaign." smirked Arngrim. He turned to glance at Rufus, gesturing at the chair. "Well don't just stand there! Sit down!" Rufus hastened to do so, eyes still fixed on the very large pile of gold Arngrim had before him.

"Where did you get all that money?" He hissed in a whisper, not wanting anyone to over hear.

"Heh..." That smirk of the warriors' was turned on the half elf, Arngrim pleased with himself. "We invited some of the locals to play with us last night. They were all too easy to beat."

"Fools and their gold are easily parted." muttered Dallas, sighing.

"We cleared out the wallets of the last one at about five..." added Arngrim.

"Five...five in the morning?!" Asked Rufus, his jaw dropping open. "Don't tell me you've been up all night!" Both men nodded, and Rufus just stared, being forced to admit that his wife had indeed been right. Arngrim and Dallas were indeed getting restless, dangerously so if Arngrim had actually been willing to risk gambling away some of their money!

"Wait...so you've been on a winning streak right...I mean we're not in danger of being broke any time soon." Rufus gestured at the money, Arngrim's hands closing protectively on the pile.

He nodded. "Yes, we more than tripled the original ten thousand oth we had. Although...Dallas here has lost a fair amount of his share to me."

"Only because you cheat!" protested the mage, still scowling.

"Careful..." Arngrim said, smirking at the mage. "Words like that could lead to a fight...and you don't want me mad at you. Especially when you need me to loan you money for your potion business!"

"Er...how much did you lose to him?" Rufus asked, morbidly curius as Dallas muttered something about Arngrim charging an arm and a leg for interest.

"I still have my five thousand." Dallas said. "Maybe a little more than that. I'd have more if this oaf hadn't talked me into a friendly game of cards."

"Hey, all's fair in love and money." Arngrim said. "Besides you were the one who kept whining about one more hand!"

Rufus shook his head, listening to the two banter back and forth. He supposed it could be worse, that the two could have gotten into some serious trouble. At least this way they had increased the party's fortune, and by the sound of it had enjoyed themselves in the process. The bar maid approached the table, her eyes greedy, the woman being far more attentive than she usually would be due to the sight of the gold. Rufus began giving her his order, requesting enough food for two more people.

"So...breakfast in bed again?" asked Arngrim as the woman moved away.

"Er no...Alicia will be down in a few minutes." explained Rufus. "We'll be eating with you guys."

"Oh?" Arngrim arched an eyebrow. "First dinner, now breakfast? Whatever did we do to deserve this honor?"

"The princess will be joining us?" Dallas said, sounding panicked. "Perhaps we could...keep this little indiscretion from her."

"What's the matter? Don't want Alicia to know you've been gambling?" Rufus asked, amused.

Dallas shook his head no. "It's just unseemly behavior for one from the King's court."

"Yeah...right. Seems anything that was a bit of fun, was considered bad behavior back in Dipan." Arngrim said. "I'm working on getting Dallas here to loosen up some." He rolled his eyes, implying what a monumental effort it was.

"I am plenty loose." Dallas said stiffly, making his companions erupt into laughter.

The bar wench returned with two plates of food, setting them down before Rufus. "Allow me." said the warrior, tossing a few gold coins in the woman's direction. She smiled, and hurried off, pleased with her tip. She passed by a smiling Alicia, who gave a wave and hurried to the table.

"Morning!" She said cheerfully, inhaling the sweet aroma of the food. "Hmmm, it smells delicious!"

"Dig in." Rufus said, handing her a fork.

Alicia twirled her fork in her eggs, getting a generous amount onto the tines. "Rufus? Did you tell them yet?"

"Tell us what?" asked Arngrim in answer to her question.

She paused to chew her food, slow careful bites as she considered her words. "Rufus and I were thinking..." Alicia said after swallowing down her eggs. "We think it's time that we leave Solde."

"Are you sure?" Arngrim was surprised, seeing the newlyweds nod their heads. "But you just got married...I thought you'd want to spend more time relaxing before we got on the road."

"We can do that at Crell Monferaign." Alicia said, Rufus not failing to notice the look of relief on the two men's faces. "It'll take a while for Dallas to settle in, and it's as good a place as any for a honeymoon." She smiled at Rufus, her husband's hand landing on her knee, giving her a squeeze underneath the table.

"When do you want to leave?" Arngrim asked, noticing the mage's face had turned a little green at the lovey dovey look Alicia had given her husband.

"I was thinking right after breakfast." Alicia said, eating some more of her eggs.

"Well I'm ready." Arngrim said, not having much to pack.

"Me too." agreed the mage, muttering his first words since Alicia had approached the table.

"Excellent." Alicia smiled, and then stood, excusing herself from the table. The men watched her walk towards the bar, her voice carrying towards them as she began shopping for meal supplies.

"I'm looking forward to the journey." Arngrim said, Dallas bobbing his head in agreement. "Besides...I have a feeling if we stuck around any longer, the two of us might wear out our welcome in Solde."

"Oh? And why is that?" A curious Rufus asked.

"Well..." Arngrim grinned, and leaned forward, his voice lowering to a whisper. "Dallas wasn't kidding about me cheating at cards." He winked at his friends, even as he busied himself with putting away his gold.

"I knew it!" Dallas said, his voice too loud in the room. "I knew it..." He lowered it to a whisper after getting a few annoyed glances his way. "No one's luck is THAT good!"

"Arngrim!" Rufus shook his head, torn between being amused and chargrined at the beserker's admittance. "If those guys you swindled sober up and realize you were cheating...we could have a blood bath on our hands."

"Which is just as well we're leaving right now." Arngrim grinned, pleased at the timing of Alicia's request. "We'll be well away from Solde before anyone even thinks to question my luck at the cards."

"I should have known." Rufus sighed heavily. "You're too much of a penny pincher to risk money like that...not without working all the angles." Arngrim just smiled, acting as though Rufus had paid him the greatest of compliments.

Dallas was still muttering under his breath, shooting dark glances at Arngrim. Rufus picked up on the words curse and dark forces, making him worry that the mage sought to enchant Arngrim with some harmful spell. "So listen..." Rufus began, trying to ease the mage's mood. "You're going to give back the money you stole from Dallas at least, aren't you?"

"Why should I?" Arngrim started to say, and Rufus hastily caught him off.

"After all, you did get it through less than...wholesome ways." Rufus said, staring at the beserker.

"I suppose..." muttered Arngrim, crossing his arms over his broad chest. Rufus' lips twitched in amusement, seeing the beserker was getting ready to sulk.

"It is only fair." pointed out Rufus. "And it would be helping out a..." He winced, forcing the word out of his mouth. "...friend." Arngrim gave him a look that said what he could do with his help, and Rufus sighed. At least Dallas had stopped his angry muttering, sipping calmly at his tea.

"Alicia!" The mage suddenly said, setting down his drink. "Allow me!" He hurried to his feet, approaching the princess who struggled to carry several packs worth of food. He reached out with his good hand, taking one of the bags from her, even as Rufs leapt to his feet.

"Here...let me just get the other one..." Alicia found her arms empty, Rufus taking the remaining bags from her.

"Thank you." She said gratefully. "I hope I bought enough."

"Looks like you bought enough to feed a small army!" commented Dallas, looking amazed at the amount of food she had procured.

"Well...Rufus and Arngrim certainly eat like they are an army." joked the blonde. Once at the table, she set about to distributing the food between the group, each person expected to carry their own weight in supplies. They sat around for a few minutes more, just enjoying the quiet of the tavern, mentally preparing themselves for the journey ahead. They didn't know who or what they would meet on the road to Crell Mongeraign, but they were confidant they could handle almost anything the trip would throw at them.