Tornedalians

Rhaenys was quiet for a few minutes before speaking up. "I fear I am with child again, and I cannot bring myself to tell Vladomir for fear of how he will react."

---

Lucian stepped back a bit then.

"It could be in the future."

"If we were to marry, yes."

"You must tell him," She replied with a frown, "He would not harm you, would he? Has he taken to Christopher now?"

---

Lucinda looked over her shoulder and waved when she saw Lucian.

"He would not harm me, no of course not. But he was not pleased at all when he found out about Christopher." Rhaenys pointed out. "Of course he adores him now, but that does not mean he will not be angry that we will have another mouth to feed. Especially since last month his best mare fell and broke her leg so he had to put her down. The business has still not recovered properly from the war... I fear he will be angry with me."

---

"Both hands on the reins, Lucinda!" Lucian called.

"And someday we will."

Marie smiled softly nodding her head. "I would like that."

He smiled slightly. "I thought you might."

"Why?" She asked, though almost on cue a carriage pulled by two large horses went past at a high speed and spooked her horse. Causing it to trot on the spot and almost rear, which made Lucinda lose her balance and fall.

---

"Well you can not keep it a secret," Lilliana frowned.

Lucian darted over as quick as he could, managing to catch her just before she hit the floor. "That's why, princess." he sighed.

---

"I know that, but I cannot think of a good way to tell him..."

Lilliana just sighed softly, whispering, "I do not know what words to offer in solution to that, I apologise

---

Lucinda clung onto him the instead she felt him there, lip trembling slightly as she looked up to see his facial expression so she knew whether to cry or not.

"I'm here princess, do not worry." Lucian soothed, standing up and holding her tightly, rubbing her back.

---

"Have you not yet conceived another child with my brother?" Rhaenys questioned. "Surely he will be wanting a son soon,"

Lilliana shook her head in the negative, "He adores Lucinda, he has not questioned or enquired about having another child and I have not conceived."

---

Lucinda buried her face in his shoulder.

"And that is why I told you to use both hands, my sweet." Lucian sighed as he walked away, all the other kids scrambling for a turn now.

---

"Have you not even tried?" Rhaenys mused.

"Of course. I would be very silly if I did not."

"That is a rather personal question, is it not?" Lilliana asked with a small frown.

---

Lucinda just gave a small nod in understanding.

"Well if you were having trouble conceiving then I could've given you recipies for potions and the like my mother had passed down to her from my grandmother." Rhaenys shrugged. "Though by your tone I can tell you haven't, which is most strange since you only have a daughter."

---

"You can try again later, mm?"

Lilliana just shook her head in the negative, deciding not to say a word on the subject now.

---

"Yes…" Lucinda whispered quietly in response.

Rhaenys was quiet then too, though she had a look on her face that suggested she didn't know what she'd done wrong.

Lucian headed back inside then, to Lilliana. "She fell from the horse because she didn't use two hands like daddy told her to." he sighed, handing her over.

"You need to do as your told Luci," Lilliana sighed as he took her from Lucian, "We'll tell you things that will keep you safe, princess,"

"I sorry," Lucinda whimpered, hugging her mother.

"She didn't hit the ground, but it was close enough." Lucian sighed.

"I have to go find my husband, excuse me dear brother, Luci, Lilliana." Rhaenys said quietly as she stood up and headed outside to Vladomir and Christopher, who was patiently waiting for his go on a horse.

Vladomir was stood just beside Christopher. Messing his hair up every now and again.

---

"Your sister just questioned me as to why we do not have a son yet," Lilliana whispered quietly to Lucian.

"And did you tell her it is because we have not tried yet, because you do not want to birth another child anytime soon?" Lucian answered as he played with her hair.

---

"We need to speak about something, I cannot keep it from you any longer." Rhaenys murmured.

"I told her it was a personal question, which it was,  I do not wish for people to know how often I am bedded it is not to be common knowledge so she assumed that we have not been trying and then went on to say it were strange."

---

"Later?" Vladomir asked, tensing a bit at that.

"If we were in a normal marriage it would be strange. But we are not, so..."

---

"As you wish."