Love & War
Chapter 17

Elliot

Illiana is sitting before me smiling. I feel the babies move under my hand. My children.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

I look up at Illiana again. Her cheeks are slightly fuller now than when I left. It suits her. Theos I love this woman, but I don’t deserve her. I don’t deserve any of this. It should have been me in Zander’s stead. I frown.

“Whats wrong, Maður?” Illiana touches my hand.

I sigh,” I’m thinking about Z. Oh! Before I forget. We have a battle plan. Tomorrow at sunrise I will be going to the barracks for a meeting.”

Illiana cocks her head to the side and looks at something behind me. “I’m going too.”

“Absolutely not. You need to rest and relax,” my eyebrows knit together. She looks behind me again. Is she zoning out?

“You don’t have authority over me. I’m going too. Jessilyn is my best friend and I will be there for her in any way that I can be,” Illiana narrows her eyes. I throw my hands up in defeat. I don’t want to cause another fight.

“Fine. Fine, but you’re riding Lucinda.”

“You’ve got a deal,” she smiles. This compromise is better than nothing, I guess.

“If we are to be there by sunrise, we should go to bed, My Queen.”

“Okay. Help me up?” She scoots to the edge of the couch. Her belly almost reaches her knees when she sits like that.

I stand up and extend my hand to her. She takes it and pulls herself up off of the couch and laces her fingers with mine.

“Shall we?” She turns and looks up at me, her emerald eyes sparkling in the fading sunlight.

“Lead the way. I would follow you anywhere in Fyoria, Kona.” She shakes her head smiling and pulls my arm gently toward the bedroom. Gods it is going to feel so good sleeping in my own bed tonight with my wife.

Illiana pushes the door open and lets go of my hand. She walks in and goes to the left side of the bed. She turns around facing the wall and jumps up onto the bed.

I chuckle and walk into the bedroom myself.

“Are you just going to stand there laughing at me or are you going to come to bed?” Illiana huffed. She’s cute when she pouts.

“I’m coming,” I smile. I get into bed beside her. She lays down with her back against my chest. I drape my arm over her and rest my hand on her belly. The twins were active tonight. How the hell does she sleep with that going on?

“Good night, Elliot,” she yawns.

“Good night, my love.” I bury my face in the back of her head. I close the eyes with the subtle scent of wild daisies and lavender. Finally, I am back to my happy place.

“Elliot. Wake up!” I hear Illiana’s voice from beside me.

“Why?” I groan.

“Its almost sunrise. We have to get to the barracks now.”

No fucking way. I just closed my eyes. I open my eyes and groggily look over at the window. She’s right. Damn.

I sigh and sit up. Illiana throws her legs over the side of the bed and stands up.

“Come on, Elliot. I’m going to wake up Dian. Get dressed?” Illiana looks over at me and raises an eyebrow.

I rub my eye and nod. I can hear her giggle as she walks out of the bedroom and knocks on Obsidian’s door.

I should get dressed. I stare at my clothes. I sigh and pull on another shirt. Its usually chilly at this time of day.

I reach into the closet and pull out two more of my thickest, fur-lined shirts. Illiana and Obsidian.

I walk to the doorway and Illiana is standing by the couch. I clear my throat.

“I-uh. Here. Wear this because it’s going to be cold out,” I hold out one of the shirts. Illiana accepts it and pulls it on over what she’s wearing.

If not for her belly, it would have gone down to her knees easily.

“Oh! I like this shirt!” She smiles at me.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Obsidian’s door creaks open and I turn to face it. He doesn’t even look like the same kid. Instead of looking small, ragged, and worn, he looks well rested, clean, amd comfortable. He is wearing leather pants, a cotton shirt tucked into his pants, and a thick leather belt around his waist.

“Here, Obsidian,” I hold out the other shirt. ” like I was telling Illiana, its going to be a little cold out. I don’t want either of you getting sick.”

Obsidian took the shirt and pulled it over his head. It looks like a night gown on him. I bite my lip to suppress a laugh, and Illiana shoots me a warning glare. I quickly look away from them as not to challenge her.

“Are you warm, Dian?” She asks fixing the collar of the shirt.

“Yes! I am, thank you very much!” He seems to have taken a liking to her. I look over at them and then at the door.

“Shall we?” I gesture over to the door. Illiana takes Obsidian’s hand and leads him to the door. She points to a pair of children’s boots beside hers.

“Try those boots on, Dian. Let me know how they fit. Okay?” Obsidian nods and grabs the boots. While he slips the on, Illiana puts hers on as well. I follow suit then look over at Obsidian.

“They’re a bit lose, but that just means growing room!” He grins. Illiamq smiles over at him. She is genuinely happy right now. Her beautiful green eyes shining brightly.

“I’m going to get Lucinda ready. You two wait here until I call for you,” I push open the door.

“Okay, Maður.”

I close the door behind me and walk down the steps. It’s still dark out. The sun is barely peaking over the horizon.

I put two fingers in my mouth and whistle loudly for Lucinda. Seconds later, I hear her trotting in my direction.

Once she reaches me, I adjust the saddle and cushion it with my sleeping bag for Illiana.

“Are we okay to come out now, Mister Prince Elliot?” Obsidian pokes his head out of the front door. I chuckle and nod.

“Yeah. Will you help Illiana down the stairs?”

“Yes sir!” He awkwardly salutes like he did before. The door creaks open and Illiana walks out first. I offer my hand to help her down the stairs. She accepts and slowly takes one step at a time. I’ve never really noticed how big they are compared to her.

Obsidian walks out behind her and closes the door. I lift Illiana on to the cushioned saddle. She’s still rather light considering.

“Dian, would you like to ride on Lucinda with me?” Illiana looks down at Obsidian. He shakes his head.

“No. I’m gunna walk like a man!”

Illiana giggles and nods. I take Lucinda’s reigns and Obsidian’s hand before I begin to walk.

The market is quiet this morning. Most of the vendors are just now opening their stalls. Obsidian excitedly looks around at everything. Illiana is watching him with a smile on her face. My family. I grin as we walk down the road leading out of the market and to the gates.

“Where exactly are the barracks?” Illiana finally speaks up.

“They are on either side of the entrance. We will be there in fifteen minutes give or take.” I look up at her. She has one hand on her belly and the other on her leg. She is an absolute goddess and I am a lucky fool. Undeserving and unworthy.

We reach the gates in fifteen minutes as I predicted. I lead them both to the left. There are dozens of soldiers already gathered and sparring. Archers doing their target practice with wooden cutouts of beasts and rapskas. Illiana watches an arrow pierce through a dangling rapska target and frowns. Shit.

She looks away and I frown. I forgot all about those stupid targets.

“Whoa!” Obsidian excitedly points to the large beams bracing the gates. A few of the scouts are doing stamina training by scaling them and sliding back down without falling off or getting shot by an arrow.

I give his hand a light squeeze then turn my attention to a group of men qbd women in front of us. I clear my throat and they all bow.

“Prince Elliot,” Lowe speaks up from somewhere in the back. Of course it’s him. Why couldn’t he have been the one to get taken. I roll my eyes.

“Yes, Lowe?” I try to hide the irritation in my voice.

“We are all gathered now. Would you like for us to gather everyone?” Well no shit.

“Yes, Lowe. I would.” I have to remember to keep my temper in check. I look up at Illiana. She’s looking at the faces of the soldiers before us.

“Before you do that, this is my wife, Illiana. She is to be treated with the same respect you show me,” I let go of Lucindas reigns and place a hand on her leg. Illiana puts her small hand on mine.

“The child beside me is our son, Obsidian. The same goes for him. These two are to be protected no matter the cost. Do I make myself clear?” I give Obsidian’s hand a gentle squeeze.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Now, gather everyone around. The war meeting will begin in five minutes.”

The soldiers in front of me nod and disperse. I look up at Illiana. She is shifting on the saddle.

“Are you uncomfortable, Kona?” She looks down at me.

“Yes. I am.”

“Come then. Let’s get you down,” I let go of Obsidian’s hand and turn to face her. She reaches over to me and I help her dismount. She stands in front of me for a moment with her arms still around me.

“Not that I’m not enjoying this, but are you okay?” I look down at her. She nods and lets go of me.

I open my mouth to say something but close it again. My soldiers surround us. She looks up at me an smiles.

“It is time for your meeting now. Come, Dian. We will stand over her by Lucinda so we will not be in the way,” she holds her hand out for Obsidian. Obsidian takes her hand. I look around.

“Good morning soldiers. As you all know, The Fae have taken Zander. We’re going to get him back,” my voice booms out.

“Do you have a plan to do so?” A voice pipes up from the sea of soldiers. I would almost bet fifteen tral its Lowe. Annoying toadstool.

“I do. With the help of my wife,” I gesture over to Illiana, “we have the locations of all the fae outposts. They sent us a letter yesterday as well. They want to have an exchange in two weeks time. Obsidian for Zander. I cannot allow that. So, instead, we will be sending a decoy.”

“We will overthrow the two fae outposts on either side of the meeting ground. Our archers will be positioned there and along the tree line. I will have a small unit of soldiers with me, everyone else will hide themselves in the tree line and wait for my signal. Should it come to a battle, we will be prepared.”

I look over at Illiana. Shes holding Obsidian close by her side.

“Obsidian will not be going with us. He will be staying here at the village with my father. Garret, Zander’s eldest, will be our decoy. We will dress him as Obsidian and retrieve Zander. Any questions so far?”

“Yeah, uh, is Princess Jessilyn okay with this plan?” A feminine voice asks.

I nod.

“I was the one who came up with the plan, actually. You can direct that question to me,” Jessilyn answer from behind me.

“Jessilyn will lead the archers and I will lead the ground unit. For now, I will update the barrack map with the new outposts. We will have a backup plan as well. We have found a blind spot to enter the fae kingdom should we need to launch a surprise attack. Joben, I will entrust this plan to you. You may choose ten soldiers for this.”

I look over at Illiana again. She has a hand on her belly and the other still wrapped around Obsidian. I promise I will protect you both.