That night, a nervous energy filled her as she met the family for dinner. But despite those nerves that refused to be quelled by the knowledge of eventual matrimonial bliss with Brad, she also felt like her old self. Granted, her appetite hadn’t returned fully but now she could at least stop just going through the motions. Now, she participated willingly, knowing her time would be done soon and then they’d both be free. And if passing the time meant acting acclimated and present, she’d do so to get out of there faster.<br/><br/>Dress changed so it was more formal appropriate, hair adjusted from the wind-swept look she’d come in with, Maria was all smiles as she came into the dining hall, taking her seat beside Ivor as per usual. Simprina lingered in the back as per usual.<br/><br/>“How was everyone’s day?” Maria asked, voice cheerful as she took a sip of water, making sure to glance at everyone, including the devil herself.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Ivor sighed a bit to himself when Maria entered, hoping that she would be sick once again so that he did not have to pretend that he actually cared. But there she was, all smiles and warmth…it was disgusting. Still, he had a part to play just like everyone else in this room. “I see that you’re feeling better, my love?” surprisingly himself that he was able to get those words out without getting sick. “Get a good rest in before dinner?”</span><br/><br/>Though it was loathsome to do, her smile grew as she regarded her<span style="font-style: italic">husband</span>. “I am, and I did, thank you,” came her reply. “I couldn’t miss another opportunity to spend time with you, so I made sure to save my energy for tonight.”<br/><br/>Then glancing toward Queen Meredith, she added, “I also got a lovely surprise from the boys today. They found me the most beautiful flowers that only bloom this time of year.”<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">“We found them because Brad was showing us different flowers and trees,” Edgar chimed in. <br/><br/>“Then he told us about the flowers so we got some for Maria,” Earl added with a smile at Maria. <br/><br/>“My boys may have a crush on you, m’dear. Look at you bewitching all the men in the kingdom,” the Queen playfully teased. “But, my dear you certainly are looking better than you have these past few weeks. Has the baby finally stopped making you sick?”</span><br/><br/>“I just may have a crush on them, too; what woman wouldn’t with how sweet and attentive they are?” she teased back, with a grin toward the pair. “But yes, I’ve been feeling much better. I may still be tired, but at least my body is finally becoming accustomed to the growing life I carry.”<br/><br/>How was she managing to remain so casual and happy in appearance? The stress level was high for her, heart pounding so loud she was sure Ivor would surely hear it, but he appeared oblivious.<br/><br/>“I hope I do not speak too soon and tempt the fates, but I feel my pregnancy will be smoother from here on out.”<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">“That is wonderful! We want both you and our grandchild to be in good health,” looking to her son Ivor with a disapproving glare. “Don’t we, Ivor?” <br/><br/>“Hmm?” having gone off into his own little world. “Oh yes of course!” then to try and sell the idea a bit more to his mother he reached down and placed his hand on her stomach, only to suddenly yank it back when the baby kicked. “Whoa! What was that?”</span><br/><br/>Maria wasn’t an imbecile. No, she knew that Ivor was checked out of the conversation before Meredith drew attention to that fact. Just as she had a part to play, so did he, and his was the dutiful husband who cared.<br/><br/>The only difference was, she made sure to follow the conversation.<br/><br/>But what almost made her wrench back was his hand on her stomach. His touch still made her skin crawl and bile rise in the back of her throat, wanting nothing more than to get as far away from him as possible. Thankfully for her, the baby’s kick threw him off and his hand was quickly removed.<br/><br/>A hand now rested atop her growing baby bump, her smile genuine as she felt them continue to move. “The baby’s kicking…” she replied. “They must be doing very well to be so active.”<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Ivor looked down at her like his hand had been bit by some kind of monster. Whereas, everyone else, especially Brad, were happy for the news of the baby’s activity. “Must get all that strength from its father, huh?” Abby helpfully chimed in which made Brad wince a bit while he pushed his meal about. “Mother was Ivor terribly active while you carried him?” <br/><br/>Meredith thought it over, “Hmmm….I believe so. It was a number of years ago and I was still rather young when I had him. I honestly could not tell if it was him or some unfortunate gas at the time.” This caused everyone at the table to laugh, then the King chimed in with, “It was usually gas.” A wink at Maria while the wine was refilled to all around the table, save for her own glass. “But, does the child kick strongly?” the King asked when the bit of laughter had died down. “May I feel?”</span><br/><br/>The look on her husband’s face was noted, prepared to laugh at it later while simultaneously brushing it off. But, Abby’s comment had that smile she’d been wearing flickering for the briefest glimmer of a second before resuming the brilliance it’d carried. Thankfully, no one seemed bother by it, Meredith moving the conversation along to her unfortunate movement versus gas dilemma while carrying Ivor, eliciting a fairly boisterous laugh without reservation as the latter was confirmed.<br/><br/>But the King’s request and question took her full attention. As he was next to her, she didn’t have to move too much, Simprina moving forward to help adjust her chair as she shifted a touch closer to him to allow him to feel. With only a gesture and a smile as confirmation for him, she answered, “They do kick very strongly. Up until now, it’s been mainly some small movements I’ve felt, shifting… Today, however, the kicks started.” Her hand resting atop his as they awaited the next kick, her smile grew. “I can only imagine how active they’ll be once they’ve come into the world, if these kicks are an-”<br/><br/>Words cutting off as her eyes widened in excitement, another kick felt just under the King’s palm, followed shortly after by another. “-Any indication,” Maria finished, smile broad.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">The feel of the baby as it kicked made the King beam with pride. “My first grandchild is going to be a little troublemaker, I am certain. I cannot wait to hear the small sounds of their laughter and little feet as they run up and down the halls.” <br/><br/>Removing his hand and sitting back up properly at the table, “Thank you for allowing me to feel that. It is…well there really aren’t the words for it but I hope you know that you being here warms this old heart and lets me know that we can provide a better future for the next generation.”</span><br/><br/>“I’m sure the boys will make sure that their troublesome streak is miles wide…”<br/><br/>Just like that, guilt. It hit her like a boulder falling from a cliff onto a helpless animal below with no warning. She was caught in it, suddenly drowning in it as the realization that they’d be leaving these people really sank in. She loved Brad and would do anything for him, including leaving… But Randal? Meredith? Earl and Edgar? They were as much a family to her as anyone else, and she’d have to walk away from them all.<br/><br/>Then the implications of what leaving would mean for Veruu and for Sirmia, for her father...for them. Her heart’s wild beating became far more erratic as she slowly repositioned herself to sit properly at the table. Her food no longer held taste. The smile, though still on her lips was beginning to falter as a hand remained on her stomach. One could only hope they’d attribute her change in demeanor to a particularly hard kick or something like the gas Meredith had mentioned moments before.<br/><br/>Lapsing into silence, Simprina could see the change and moved forward to whisper in her ear, asking if she was alright or needed anything, but Maria waved her off, assuring her she was fine.<br/><br/>Even if this new self-condemnation made her want to be sick.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Brad noted the change in Maria and could almost guess as to what caused it. “My’ lord?” he spoke up to get the attention of the King who had started to look at Maria with some concern. <br/><br/>“Yes?” <br/><br/>“What ever became of that pig that nearly did me in?” <br/><br/>“Oh well,” he grinned and clapped his hands. Out from the hall the head of the beast was brought mounted on a bit of wood. Along with a large new thick cloak. “We had this done while you were recovering. As we thought the man who slain the beast deserved to be warm this winter,” the King clapped and everyone joined in. Even Ivor seemed to actually be paying attention this time around. <br/><br/>“Thank you, this is far too kind.” <br/><br/>“Nonsense,” he clapped Brad on the shoulder after he personally helped him try on the cloak. “You saved my son. You are like family now so there is no need to thank me for anything. Beside, you did the hard work and killed the damn thing,” he chuckled and returned to his seat. <br/><br/>“Oh, Maria? Are you unwell?” Abby asked intentionally throwing the attention back to Maria. “Maybe Ivor should help you to bed? Stay with you and help you feel better?”</span><br/><br/>If she could’ve thrown him a grateful look, she would’ve in a heartbeat, but making eye contact with Brad right now with the family surrounding them wasn’t wise. Not with Abby’s accusations and the king’s knowledge, which meant that the queen also knew, and with Simprina’s concerns…<br/><br/>No, if she made eye contact with him, she’d give herself away if she sought any solace in his gaze, so she instead focused on pushing the food around her plate as the boar was brought in. Its head on a mount a constant reminder of the triumph and his near-death experience, along with a new cloak for the coming months. Clapping though, she didn’t want to seem out of place, even if she couldn’t look over.<br/><br/>But Abby couldn’t let it go, so she had to shift her expression to one of discomfort and then act as though it passed. “No, no, I’m fine,” she assured the wretch, the smile slowly returning as she held the eye contact. “The baby’s kicks merely caused me some discomfort, but they’ve quieted back down and are still again. I’m sure Ivor would much rather stay here for dinner, and I wouldn’t want to leave so early, not when we’ve only just been seated. But, truly, thank you for your unwavering concern. It means the world to me that you’d want to make sure I’m well.”<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Just want to make sure <span style="font-style: italic">my</span> niece or nephew is doing well,” Abby replied with a smile. “Have you two talked about names?” intentionally looking to Brad as he carefully sat back down in his seat.</span><br/><br/>“No, Ivor and I haven’t really discussed names yet,” she answered as easily as possible, taking a sip of water afterward. “In Veruu, names aren’t discussed until the child has arrived, with the male carrying on the name that the father chooses. If the baby is a girl, the mother can have some input should she wish it.” Glancing at Ivor, though it pained her to ask it, “Have you considered what you want to name the baby?”<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Again Ivor had ceased to care when the women spoke so it took him a moment to get back into what was being discussed. “Oh…well…if it was a boy I told Brad I would name it after him for saving my life.” <br/><br/>“That’s very thoughtful brother, to have another man’s name be that of your son. But, what about naming it after you? That way the child could be the second in a long long line of proud Ivors?” Abby offered.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Oh no…</span>came a thought, immediately wanting to look at Brad and see what he thought, but again, she refrained. Already, she could tell what Ivor’s new train of thought was, and she had to play the dutiful wife.<br/><br/>No matter how much it killed her.<br/><br/>“Any boy would be lucky to carry on the Ivor name,” Maria chimed in, feigning a smile as her hand gingerly held his in a loving gesture that made her skin crawl. “I’ve also been fond of the name Randal… Any of the names in this room would be a good fit for a future king.”<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Brad swallowed hard and tried to ignore the remarks in the room. Thinking about his child being called Ivor and thinking that man was its…father. “Ivor the second does have a nice…feel to it…” Ivor remarked after a moment. “Start the line of Ivor the Great! I love the sound of that.” Actually, taking interest now in the baby she carried, he used his free hand to rest on her stomach, “Ivor…yes that will be the name of our son.”</span><br/><br/>There was nothing she could do to get out of it, to avoid it. Abby had known exactly what to say to get Ivor to act as she wanted. She knew it’d cause distress to herself, it’d put Brad in a sour mood, and it’d push them both to either do something stupid or act rash.<br/><br/>But, she couldn’t say anything against it, nor could she tell Ivor to remove his hand. All Maria could do was smile at her husband, resting a hand atop his as she put on the best performance of her life. “I couldn’t agree more with your words, my love,” she replied to that. “Ivor the second will be a wonderful addition to this family, to rule our lands in your stead when the time comes…”<br/><br/>She didn’t think she’d be able to call her child any name even remotely resembling this man’s name. Any other name, but that.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">“Let’s toast to the future! To the joining of our two kingdoms!” King Randal said as he raised his glass. The rest of the family followed suit, even Brad who was in a sour mood now, but needed to still play along. After the toast the rest of the dinner was uneventful, with Brad feigning pain to leave early as Ivor actually started to doting on Maria like he actually cared about her. <br/><br/>Back in his room, he removed his shirt to check his bandages. They would need to be changed before he went to bed, but at the moment he just wanted to relax before he tried to go and see Maria for the night. More than ever he needed to hold her in his arms and keep her close to him. Knowing that despite everything she was his and would always be his.</span><br/><br/>It took her some time before she could finally get back to her room after the dinner from hell. Tension had gripped her form and held on so tightly, her shoulders refused to fully drop, and the wrinkles that Simprina used to worry about were surely forming across her brow.<br/><br/>How long would she be able to hold out? On the one hand, this was her new family and she loved almost all of them (save for the two thorns in her backside) and it’d pain her to leave them all behind. But on the other...she couldn’t stand to look at Ivor, but to have a child named after him? That child would unintentionally get the same treatment from her no matter how much she tried to disassociate between the two. That wouldn’t be fair to him.<br/><br/>Then, there was the fact that their child would never know who their real father was...and they could never properly be together.<br/><br/>In the end, she knew she couldn’t stay with them, not if she ever wanted to be happy.<br/><br/>Preparing for bed, her lady-in-waiting helped her undress and redress in her nightgown. Once their final goodnights were said, Maria sat down in front of her window, the journal Brad had gotten her pulled out as she began to write down a better scenario for their future. A perfect world in which they could live the lives they wanted, free of the confines of position or arrangement, somewhere far away from there.<br/><br/>Then, when satisfied with it, she hid it in the usual place, crawling into bed to relax for the rest of the night, pushing Ivor and Abby as far from her mind as possible so as to try and rest properly.