A few days had passed since the betrayal of Bhelen and he had been…dealt with. And just like that everything seemed to return to normal again, life in Riven resuming like it always did. It seemed however that people, men especially, had a new respect for their Leader’s wife. Twice she had been threatened and twice Noel had not hesitated to give out punishment and the village began to realize just how important the delicate girl truly was to him. It made some people a bit fearful and careful around her and although at first it saddened her, she realized this was how they behaved with Noel. It was respect and she had finally gained it after so many months.

She had yet to tell Noel the news, she was waiting for his mood to improve, for it was still dark because of Bhelen and she had wanted to wait till she saw a smile on his face again before telling him. Morning came on another warm day in Riven and she stirred when she felt Noel rising next to her. She usually got up as well to make him food to start his day, but this morning she turned to look at him and grabbed his arm and tugged to get him to lie back with her “No…stay a little longer” She never had made him stay longer in bed then he wanted, she knew he had duties to do, but this morning she just wanted him to stay a little longer.

The betrayal of Bhelen had left Noel near silent for the passed few days. He had kept to himself and remained quiet, still lingering on the idea of a man who raised him had turned on him. It was all because of a woman. Was that not the game that children dawdled over? He was not a child. He was a fully grown man with a wife and the leader of an entire Age, and yet Bhelen had resorted to child’s play but wound up paying a deadly price

He awoke a bit later than normal for the next few days and today was no exception. As he stirred he ran his hands over his face, rubbing his eyes and yawning somewhat loudly. His stomach growled and he rolled to get out of bed only to feel a small hand on his arm. As he glanced over his shoulder another yawn escaped him and he did not argue with his wife. He crawled back into bed and laid on his stomach, draping one arm over her and one arm under the pillow as he settled himself back into bed. Cuddling had never been his thing, but he had never really been given the opportunity to do so before Lorelei. As they laid there he kissed her shoulder slowly, one kiss slowly following another. “Perhaps I will call council short today.” It was a beautiful warm day and he, for once, didn’t want to spend it in the hut with other men dawdling on politics.

She was glad when he didn’t have any resistance and merely laid back in bed with her. She smiled and turned onto her back with her body slightly shifted in his direction, running a hand down his back as she admired his face. As a woman she enjoyed cuddling, at least now she did, every night she slept with her body touching his and fell asleep to the sound of his deep breathing. Without him there she couldn’t sleep at all. When he spoke about council she smiled more and touched his face “Or…cancel it?” She said softly and with a hopeful tone. After the accusation from Bhelen that she had too much influence and control on Noel she was wary now to say anything to sway him one way or another, but today was different.

She didn’t know how long she could hold the news in. She had yet to have her bleeding and the healer was convinced now just as she was that she was pregnant and she wanted Noel to know, but it was their first child and she just didn’t want to blurt it out, she wanted to make it special. “We can take the horses and ride together in the jungle. We haven’t done that in a while”

It was true what Bhelen had said about Lorelei. She did have much influence on the leader. Her words meant something to him (most of the time) and he listened to her, but it didn’t mean that he would always take her side. She was his wife, he was allowed to care what she thought. A lot of men in Riven didn’t listen to their wives but some did, and the ones that listened seemed to be happier men and better fighters. Men fought better when they had something worthy of fighting for.

He inhaled a deep breath and exhaled it slow, nuzzling his nose against her neck. One hand pulled her a little closer as he relaxed and tried to fight against actually having to get out of bed. He thought her words over and opened his eyes, rolling onto his back and he pulled her close. “I will cancel.” She had won her way oh so easily. He sat up and leaned over to kiss her, touching her hair as he often did when being ‘affectionate’, then got out of bed and began to get dressed so that he might go tell council that they were free today. “You have a way with words, my sunshine.” He said quietly as he crawled back onto the bed once he was dressed, taking his time to actually leave the hut. He didn’t want to greet the day just yet, so instead he crawled close to her and placed kisses on her shoulder and neck.

She held her breath, wondering what he would say. Short council was better than one that would last all day, but she just wanted the day to themselves from this moment till the end of the day. They never got days like that but she didn’t know if he’d be willing, but apparently he was when he agreed to cancel and a bright smile lit up her face as she snuggled up to him and kissed him enthusiastically “You are the best husband” She told him happily. She rolled on her back as he got up from bed, stretching as she watched him dress. She’d find her out of bed while he was gone to get dressed…and try to think on how to tell him the news.

She highly doubted that her words were what convinced him but she smirked and felt proud of herself regardless. She slipped her arms around him when he crawled back on the bed, nuzzling him and playfully rubbing his side with her leg. Yes…she loved him. How she had fallen in love with a man who had once been her nightmare she didn’t know, but she could only find one word to properly suit the way he made her feel and that was the word love. “Noel…do you know where my heart is?” She asked with a smile, kissing his cheek and touching his hair.

The leader smiled and chuckled a little at her statement. Best husband? He could live with that. He tried to make her happy. He did his very best and even though he felt like a fumbling fool with romance he was happy to see her smile.

After he crawled into bed he chuckled again and nuzzled his way down to her chest nd nipples gently at her skin, a playful growl escaped him and made the wolf pup perk up. He jumped up onto the bed and tilted his head to the side, growling back playfully. "No? Where?" Noel questioned idly while trying to tease his wife some more and shoo the wolf off the bed but the beast was persistent and jumped closer, trying to wrestle his way between the two to play and protect Lorelei.

Noel may not have thought he was romantic in the literal sense, but Lorelei thought he was. When he brought her gifts or touched her hair or held her when they slept, that was all romance to her and she loved it. She had thought romance was the typical flowers and poems and declarations of love, but she saw now there were different versions of romance and the way Noel showed it warmed her heart. It was genuine and true, he put effort in it and other times it seemed effortless completely and that was perfection to her. She didn’t need anything else.

She shivered when he moved down to her chest, arching slightly at the sensation. But when Canyon jumped on the bed she glanced to him and giggled, then full on laughed when he got in-between them and interrupted there moments. “Canyon! No!” She said, grabbing at the pup and wrangled with him to push him back as she rolled with laughter. He had grown so much since she first got him, he hardly fit in her arms anymore. Once she got him off to the side she let her laughter die down put touching Noel’s face then putting a hand over his heart “There. That is where my heart is. You are the keeper of it” She told him affectionately.

It was obvious that he cared about her, to all in the village and especially to Israel. As of late the hand maiden had been giving the couple more and more time alone, but she had encouraged Lorelei to open up and embrace the hold she had on her husband. She had even given them the morning and passed few days off once she heard about Bhelen, or rather Noel gave her the time off (though she considered it a favor to the leader so he could have time alone with his wife).

He laughed at the wolf, pushing him back though he used very little force and let Lorelei handle the animal. Canyon was hers. There was a bond unlike any other creature and human could have. He smiled at the two only for his smile to grow wider and crease the corners of his eyes when she touched his chest. With that he took her hand and kissed it, smiling happily against her skin. “And you are mine.” But she already knew that. Noel leaned in and kissed her passionately for a few seconds before he pulled back and sighed. “I must go to the village and cancel council today. I will not be gone for long… my love.” After one more kiss he rose from the bed and headed out the door, walking with more confidence in his step than usual.

Once Israel had been the only rock and comfort she had. The only person she could speak too and felt safe near and thought she’d be clinging to the woman for the rest of her life here. But now she felt the same level of comfort around Noel and not that she didn’t need the woman anymore, she was still her dear and loved friend, but she found herself no longer needing Israel’s constant companionship to get her through the day without breaking down or using her as an excuse to escape being around her husband. She now spoke to Noel about her day and the things on her mind and enjoyed spending time with him, she actually was impatient when left and waited eagerly for him to return home.

The smile that lit his face made her reflect the smile in return on her own face. She never saw him smile like he did with her, in fact she never really saw him smile ever with anyone else and she rather liked that, that his smiles were just for her. She freely gave him her heart and knew he would keep it protected and safe, just as she was keep his. The kiss he gave her made her want to pull him more into bed and keep him, but knew if she truly wanted him today he’d have to leave for now. She nodded and watched him go before turning to look at Canyon as he put a paw on her for attention and sat near her head. She smiled and kissed his muzzle before getting up for the day, the young wolf jumping off the bed to loyally follow her as he always did. She dressed for the day, dressing like the Rivenese did now. Before she continued to wear the dresses she had brought from J’nanin, but now she wore the woven grass skirts and fur tops that the women did.

The top revealed her midriff and she ran her hands over it, thinking she could feel a little protruding of her stomach but she wasn’t sure. Canyon paced and whined near her and she was reminded of breakfast, she always gave him the scraps. She smiled and lowered to pet him before going outside to start a fire and cook some meat for both her husband and pet.

Noel never smiled in public. It was such a rare sight to see his face light up and his eyes crease with a grin, but it was a fairly common sight for Lorelei to see when they were alone. She made the stone man laugh, actually laugh when he sometimes thought he couldn’t. She had truly brought him to life.

Once in town it did not take him long to convince the council members that his stallion needed to stretch his legs, and that it was a hot day and they should not sit inside and let their balls sweat when they could be home being fanned by their beautiful wives. They all lovingly agreed not to sit in a hot hut and sweat down to their junk and fill the place with stink. Noel was a wise man, you see, and could convince the council of nearly anything.

It took him under an hour before he returned home, brushing his hair back out of his face. For once he had left his curly locks down, since they brushed behind his shoulder blades easily now that he hadn’t cut them since being wed. He scratched his slightly scruffy face as he walked back into his hut, smiling at Lorelei. “The day is ours, my love. I will pack the horses so we may be gone until nightfall.” And by pack the horses he meant put a blanket over the mare incase Lorelei became cold. There was plenty of water and food in the forest.

When he returned she was sitting by the pit of a no extinguished fire, feeding pieces of meat to the Canyon who sat next to her, eagerly waiting for each next piece of food. When Noel returned she smiled, seeing the good moon on his expression and knew he had accomplished in canceling the council without a hitch today. “Wonderful!”[b/] She said happily [b]“Do you want anything to eat?” She asked him as she finished off feeding Canyon before standing, knowing Noel usually ate for an entire Uru army. She petted the top of the wolf’s head before going to her husband, excited for the day ahead of them.

Once he was done tending to the horses and were ready she walked to Ocean and petted the mare’s face in greeting, putting her face against hers with a smile before looking to Noel and stepping towards him to give him a kiss. Would he be happy when she told him the news? She couldn’t imagine why he wouldn’t, but she still wondered if anything would change between them with a child on the way.

The man had been so happy to have a free day that he had nearly forgotten to eat. Things with Bhelen had really thrown Noel off, and even though he acted like all was well there were still aspects of him that showed he was still disturbed by the incident. Not eating was one of them. He nodded and inhaled slowly, recalling himself from getting the horses ready and going to stand at her side. “Yes, I am hungry.” Of course he was hungry.

Once he had eaten just enough to cease the growling in his stomach he went to set up the horses. Both animals came to him like he was their leader as well, and both animals seemed anxious to get going. It had been a while since they had gone out. When Lorelei came out and began to pet Ocean he scratched behind the mare’s ear. “Do you need help getting up?” For the longest time he had to lift her to put her ontop of the mare, but lately she was doing things on her own. He then went to his stallion, Warrior, and adjusted his bridal one last time. “What spurred you to want to go into the jungle today, my love?” The weather was lovely but hot and average, and there was no other reason he could think of. Women didn’t just do things on the spur of the moment… did they?

She was glad that Noel agreed to eat, she was worried lately of his lack of appetite and wanted him to keep up his strength. She hoped this good news would wipe away what Bhelen did and have her husband back to his complete normal self. At his offer she smiled proudly and shook her head “I can do it” She had tried to be stronger and more independent the past few days, she wanted to prove she was worthy of being Noel’s wife and not just the delicate white flower that stood silently beside him. So far it seemed to be working, people didn’t look at her as some fragile girl but as someone who had a right to be married to their strong and powerful leader.

She got up on Ocean and shifted until she was comfortable, Canyon pacing beside Ocean and ready to accompany them. He enjoyed the trips into jungle as much as they did, and he was also insistent in always following Lorelei wherever she went so he enjoyed both the freedom and keeping her protected. She shrugged at his question and giggled a bit “Just…thought it would be nice to spend some true private time together” Even alone in the hut there were people around the outside and anyone could stop by, she wanted true privacy. She spurred Ocean forward as she gave Noel a playful look, Canyon trailing behind the mare. “Try to keep up, husband” She teased

It made Noel proud that his wife was making small changes to make herself seem stronger. The people of Riven looked to her with admiration now rather than suspicion. They liked the wife that their leader had grown fond of, and rather than mean stares she was welcomed into the market with smiles… at least most of the time.

He smiled at the mention of private time. “As if we need privacy.” They were loud from what Bhelen had said their neighbors heard, but who knew if that was even true. He could have simply said it to make Lorelei uncomfortable, because it sure as hell didn’t make Noel uncomfortable. In fact it made him smile. When she took off he laughed and urged his stallion after her with a simple squeeze. The long legged beast galloped after the mare, snorting as he chased his companion and the black Warrior even nipped at her once they came closer. To give her more of a lead Noel subtly pulled back on the stallion who grunted and snorted, though it was easily passed off as struggle. Canyon dodged Warrior’s large hooves and yipped at the two horses as they ventured into the jungle and deep past the path.

She blushed a bit and looked to him “We do” She insisted. Bhelen hadn’t been too wrong, perhaps a bit exaggerated that everyone could hear him, but Lorelei had come to be quite vocal in their intimate times and there were nights when it was particularly passionate and wild that people around their hut could hear the sounds of passion inside and rumors spread like wildfire in the village. Like the comment Lorelei had made that Noel was better than a stallion in bed, the next day every single woman and man knew what she had said and the smirks she had gotten had made her blush for days.

Lorelei had come to love Ocean, the mare was graceful and gentle and she found herself being able to really relate and feel comfortable with her. The jungle also used to frighten her but now she had ventured in it so many times she knew now what to watch for and where was dangerous and safe to go. Once they ventured into the thick of the foliage she slowed the mare down to walk alongside Noel and his horse, leaning her head back and breathing in a content breath before looking to him with a smile “Noel, I’d like to ask you something” She started curiously, tilting her head “What did you think of me when you first saw me?” She chuckled “It was hard to tell with all the emotion on your face” She teased.

Rumors were a disease in any village, but they also helped in some strange way. If it had not been for rumors they would never find out who their true enemies were, or what was really going on behind closed doors. Rumors were obnoxious and a disease, but also vital for the Leader to maintain ontop of things.

As the horses slowed Noel relaxed, his strong shoulders dropping behind him and he inhaled slowly. The sun that shone through the thick jungle leaves painted warmth across his skin and made him feel at ease as he never did in the village. When Lorelei spoke he brought himself back to earth and tilted his head. “What did I think?” He asked as if he hadn’t heard her right then thought it over for a few seconds. “I thought you were beautiful… perfect. I thought I was lucky they did not send me a troll.” With that he laughed and the horse snorted to ease itself. “You were so terrified of me back then. Would your family be as terrified as you once were?” Did she miss them? Did they think of her often? So many questions about the Nanites ran through his mind but he kept his mouth shut, not wanting to make her sad on the day they were supposed to be enjoying together.

She nodded and laughed softly at his confusion of her question “Yes. You could have ordered me to be married to anyone in the village but you chose to have me married to yourself” Her being married to someone in Riven was merely just a sign of good faith, it could have been anyone she could have been dropped on but Noel had decided to do it himself, she had always assumed he chose himself because he was Leader but she always wondered if it was because of something else. She was glad though that she hadn’t been married to anyone else but Noel. There were some men in the village that were not bad, like Shale on the council, but she knew there was absolutely no one like Noel.

When he called her perfect she blushed and bit her bottom lip shyly. “Perfect?” She questioned as if she didn’t believe him “You are just saying that” Her? Perfect? Hardly “Men marry here so young, but you did not. No women here…enticed you?” Because plenty women were enticed by him and she had heard stories of many families doing everything to put their daughters in Noels’ line of sight and make them into what they thought he would want, yet he had waited all this time and had married a Nanite girl. At the mention of her family she frowned “They…would be” She said slowly “But, just as I learned to not fear you, they could as well” She did miss her family terribly and think about them all the time, especially now with a baby on the way, she wished they could be a part of it.

Had he ordered anyone else in the village to marry her it would have been a mistake. “That would have been the worst decision I ever made.” Was his response with a serious, but warm expression though he looked forward rather than over at her. He pulled out his blade and moved his stallion in front of her horse so that he could cut a path as they ventured further into the jungle.

Her next question made him pause and glance over his shoulder. “No.” Women in Riven had not interested him. For the first few years that he was leader he focused on nothing but ruling, and women were merely something to warm his bed at night. “The daughters who kept me warm were not worthy of marriage.” Most Riven men didn’t give a shit if their wives were not virgins, but Noel had wanted someone pure… someone that was entirely devoted to him.

At the mention of her family he frowned but only as he looked forward. When he glanced back at her his face was clean of al sadness. “They could visit.” They could come to Riven for a short time, but it would be difficult to convince Noel, even for Lorelei, to go into another Age.

His response made her look at him with a big smile, feeling special to hear such a response from him. She knew if she had married someone else she wouldn’t be as happy as she was now, because she was meant to be with Noel. Perhaps strange things happened like that in the world, fate wasn’t just waiting to meet the man of your dreams and falling instantly in love but to meet the man you were meant for and coming to form love between the two. She wondered what her life would be like right now if she had married someone else, but she couldn’t even imagine that, all she wanted to imagine was how she and Noel’s life together would continue.

She followed slowly behind him as he cut infront of them, glad he was ahead of her because a frown touched her lips. She knew it was silly, but she felt some jealousy to think of the women he had before her. She wondered how many, what they looked like and who they were in the village. Any of the women she knew could have slept with Noel and never batted an eye around Lorelei to show they had a secret, and suddenly that bothered her. But did it matter? She was with him now and he seemed to be pleased by her performance in bed “You are a peculiar man” She commented affectionately. To have had women in the village probably other men wished they could have, and yet he chose her.

When he mentioned her family visiting she gave him a sad smile “They would not visit” She was certain of that, her mother and sister would never dare set foot in such a place. Her father was a kind soul, if she asked him he would come but her mother would never allow him too. “But it is alright…you are my family now” But it wasn’t the same, she loved Noel but it wasn’t the same as her parents and sister. Suddenly she heard water near by and stopped the mare, glancing over in the direction of the sound then to Noel "Are there falls nearby?"

Noel was peculiar. He was self sufficient and knew how to look after himself without a wife to do so for him. Most men in the village married because they wanted someone to keep them warm at night, and someone to cook for them for when they came back from training or a hunt. They were lazy. That was what set them apart from Noel, he was far from being a sloth.

He glanced back over his shoulder and smiled at her when she said he was her family. “And in time our family will grow.” She would forget all about her mother and sister back in J’nanin and learn to love the family that she made. Besides, if it was motherly comfort she needed Noel’s mother was always looking to spend time with the wife that had him so enraptured.

“Yes. They are just up here.” He nodded in the direction of the falls and took a shorter path, cutting deeper through trees and vines. Soon the fight of a tall waterfall followed by a pool then stream appeared and Canyon galloped passed the horses to get to it. Warrior carried Noel closer and trotted until his hooves hit the water, then bent to drink once Noel jumped off of him.

She quickly looked down and touched Ocean’s mane to hide the giant happy grin on her face when he mentioned there family growing. She didn’t think she’d ever forget about her family in J’nanin, but to start a new one would help ease the loneliness of not having so many people around her and be able to focus on creating new happiness. But still is was sad, for when her sister had been pregnant her mother had been there for her and given her advice and helped her, but she would not have any of that. She would be entirely on her own during the process and was scared she wouldn’t be able to do it or she’d do things incorrectly.

When they changed direction and reached the falls she grinned in excitement “Oh! It’s beautiful!” She gasped, urging Ocean forward towards the water where she stopped near the stallion and lowered her head to drink as well. Lorelei loved water, big surprise coming from J’nanin, Nanites were born for water. She slipped off Ocean and chuckled to see Canyon dipping in the water, for even it was warm it was still cooler than the air around them. She cupped her hands into it and took a drink before glancing to Noel with a playful look “Lets swim” She said before beginning to remove her top and skirt. Once she would have never, ever dared to go swimming nude, but here in the jungle with Noel she had no shyness.

It felt as though he had never made a better decision than to cancel council today. The sun shone down through the jungle leaves and creatures sang around them. The horses drank then began to groom each other as Noel tied them near a tree, and even Canyon was in a playful mood (surprise surprise). After he finished tying the horses he looked to Lorelei and saw her toss her skirt down to the ground. Of course it stirred Noel and he smiled, then walked after her while untying and letting his own trousers drop.

Soon his feet touched the water, and the sensation that sent all the way up his spine felt as though he had not felt this refreshed in ages. The clean, flowing water was such a change of pace than training warriors and sitting through council. In the jungle he was a man free of responsibility and reputation. He only had his wife and his horses. He followed Lorelei out into the water and swam after her, grabbing at her waist and shoulders to tickle her. He, the great and serious Noel, tickling his delicate wife! He laughed and grinned, getting close enough to her to kiss her shoulders and neck playfully.

She watched him over her shoulder as she approached the water and waded into it, laughing when he suddenly came after her as she tried to run through the water and then swim away, but she didn’t put too much effort in it for she wanted him to catch her. She screamed playfully when he grabbed her and tried to tickle her, trying to push him away with her hands and feet but ended up turning to face him and slide her arms around his neck and pressing her body against him. She felt right in the water, like a mermaid would, nothing could go wrong. She wished they didn’t have the village so she could see Noel like this every minute of the day, but she supposed it was far more special to have these little moments. She wondered if people even thought he was capable of this at all, or would faint to see him behave the way he was now.

She dipped her head back to get her hair completely wet then raised it to look at him again, kissing him slow and passionate for a few moments, just enjoying the feel of their lips together. She then leaned her forehead against his and closed her eyes in contentment “My heart” She murmured, her fingertips stroking the back of his neck “You are truly a man of your word” She smiled “I am happier here with you then I have ever been in my life”

From the moment he had promised Lorelei that he would make her happy he had truly been trying. Before, when they were first married, he had tried to make her happy but had no idea how. Advice from Israel really had gifted him with ideas, but most of the time he had tried to go on his own route to make her happy. It was getting easier to do so as the days went on.

He kissed her back, pulling her close and running his hands over her wet hair as their lips met. His hands ran from the white, wet strands of hair all the way down her back, then cupped her butt as he lifted her out of the water and smiled. “Love of mine.” He kissed her neck then down to her shoulder, pulling her up higher and wrapping her legs around his waist. “Love of my life.” He said the words against her skin and kissed down to her breasts. “Did you have a secret to tell me?” He asked, looking up (well, more like straight forward – he had lifted her to eye level) at her as he waded deeper into the water. “Before Bhelen came for dinner I remember you said you had something to say, but our evening was interrupted.” What had it been, or was it something so small she had forgotten by now?

She squealed playfully when he cupped her butt and hoisted her against him, her legs smoothly wrapping around him. As he kissed her skin she felt her body relax, soft pleasured sounds parting from her lips as his arm mouth kiss her flesh. One of her hands slipped into his hair from the back of his neck, goose bumps rising on her skins in anticipation. She could feel her excitement and in that moment she wanted to order him to take her to land and make love to her, but his question drew her out and it made her heart start pounding in a different version of excitement. It was time to tell him and she didn’t know why she felt so nervous.

She pursed her lips as she smiled, taking in a deep breath “I wanted to tell you sooner, but I wanted to wait for the right time…” She touched his cheek and brushed her thumb against it, gazing into his eyes brightly “I am with child”