Mare

I slam my bedroom door shut, making the objects and furniture quake. My breathing is hardly considered breathing, it's closer to hyperventilating. I can't take a full breath in, and my exhales are shaky like a ship in testy water.

I pace back and forth on the open floor between the desk and the vanity. Volo knows, the whole room filled with the High Houses knows, and eventually, everyone in the castle will know, and knowing rumors, the whole kingdom will know, then it will trickle to the other nations.

I didn't want it to come out this way, I wanted people to know the traditional way. Maven would announce it during one of his meetings with Norta. I would be by his side. Cheers would erupt and Maven would tackle me with love and kisses.

But life isn't traditional.

I stop pacing and kick off my high-heeled shoes. I never liked high heels, they make my ankles cramp and my toes itch. I walk over to my side of the bed and sit on it abruptly, causing the duvet cover to fly up like a bubble.

I look down at my stomach, but not just a usual glance, a studying look. I pull the top of my dress in so I can fully examine it, and I see that I am showing. A small little bump shows, it's hardly the size to be noticed from a distance, but if you really look hard, it's there.

Did the man who threatened me know I was pregnant? Could he tell? Is that why he said what he said?

I snap out of it, now isn't the time for my mind to wander into the pit. I look back down, fear for the unborn, small, defenseless little thing growing in me. Is life going to be like this from now on? Will I have to be careful no matter what I do with my child?

Then I remember, I don't even know who the father of this baby is. What if the baby is Cal's and it's obvious that it is? What will happen to me and Maven? Will I still be Queen?

I snap out of it again, but Maven walks in the room really snapped me out of the ditch my mind was going in.

"Mare," He says with a sigh of relief. "I'm sorry about what I said at the meeting, I didn't mean to spill the beans."

I exhale. "It's fine, Mavey, I really am not mad at you, I'm madder at Volo than anything."

He takes off his black overcoat and tosses it next to my shoes, then sits down next to me. He puts a hand on my stomach and around my shoulder, pulling me into his embrace. I weakly fall into him.

"We have to tell them that this is true," He whispers, wishing he didn't have to say it like this.

I breathe deeply, pushing the anxiety back into the depths.

"But we don't know who the father is," My words shake.

"I know, but-,"

"Maven," I say firmly, standing up from the bed, breaking our embrace. "I have to know."

He looks at me dumbfounded.

"I don't care how, but I have to know," I say, meaning every word I say. "Whatever it takes."

"Whatever it takes?" Maven asks me, staying seated.

"Yes," I nod.

He closes his eyes and sighs deeply. "Alright, I have one idea," He stands up. "I haven't told you this or told any of the kingdoms this."

I look at him with hard eyes, listening to whatever he has to say.

"My mother had a twin sister, Elena. When she wasn't chosen to be Queen, she went mad, she tried everything in her power to make herself the most powerful person Norta had ever seen, but her magic went haywire, and she is insane now. I can't really describe how her powers work."

I can see the pain in his eyes.

"She will probably know who the father is when we see her, but I must warn you, she is insane,"

"Yes, I collected that much," I say, my eyes widening. "Where is she?"

"In the dungeons,"

***

It's cold, just like I remember it. I don't recall how to navigate the halls, but Maven leads me. We have gone down so many sets of stairs and through mazes to get through.

Now we stand at the end of a damp, fire-lit hallway with huge, spiked bars at the end of the hall.

Maven and I are about 20 paces away from the end of the hall. A hand grabs on one of the bars, then a face appears.

I must stop myself from shivering. The face of Elara comes into view, the same eyes, the same lips, the same vicious grin.

"Well, it has been ages since I have had visitors,"

And the same voice.

"And my nephew nonetheless," She looks at me, a gasp of exasperation. "And his lovely wife."

She inhales as if smelling me will identify who I am. "Ms. Mare Barrow, the murderer of my dear sister," She smiles wickedly, showing all her teeth. "How did you fall for her tricks, dear nephew?"

"I didn't have to, I saw through that," Maven looks at Elena dead-on with his icy eyes.

She makes a hum of protest, but she comes into full view. She is as skinny as a stick; her hair is tattered, and her skin is pale.

"Now, I already know why you two are here. You wish to know who the father of that baby is," She points at my stomach. My hand flies up to it immediately to protect it.

Maven takes my free hand and walks me closer to the cell, my feet hesitate but they follow.

"Wait," She says. Maven stops dead. "What's your price?"

Maven sighs, a sigh of I should have known.

"Whatever you wish," Maven regrets what he said as soon as he finished.

Elena does a mocking look of thinking, making it extra dramatic.

"The name of the baby," She looks at us with wide, insane eyes. Maven looks over at me. I look into his eyes and nod.

"You have a deal," He says, walking me closer.

Elena grips the bars, leaning into them as she licks her lips. "Perfect."

I shiver.

I continue to hold my stomach protectively, not moving my hand a muscle.

We get to her, the only thing separating us is the bars.

Elena chuckles playfully. "I hate to break it to you Mare darling, but you are going to have to let me touch you for this to work."

I look at Maven frantically, my eyes filled with fear. He gives me an affirmative nod as I close my eyes and lean my head into Maven's chest. I remove my hand.

I feel her hand on my stomach. I want to slap it away and electrocute her to death, just like I did to her sister, but I refrain. Maven's grip on my hand tightens, he rubs circles on my fingers with his thumb.

I hear a feminine chuckle. I remove my head from its position and look at Elena.

"What is it?" I whisper.

"Now," She says slowly, looking at my stomach. "This one will have my nephews'

eyes."

My eyes widen, does that mean-?

"Does that mean that it's- it's Mavens?" I ask her, my words shaking.

"Yes, that's what it means,"

Before I can say anything, I practically jump into Maven's arms, hugging him tightly to the point where I wonder if he can breathe.

"It's yours," I tell him, my words being muffled by his chest and my sobs. Happy sobs.

"It's mine," Maven says, sobbing lightly as well. "It's ours."

Maven and I stay like this for a while, holding each other tightly. I didn't even notice Elena's hand was still on my stomach until I feel her long, yellow nails dig into my skin. I breathe out a small gasp of pain.

"Some other things I should mention," I look over at her. "This one will cause a huge political drift in the kingdoms; it will cause you two to argue about what is right."

Maven shakes his head.

That will never happen.

I look at Elena dumbly, not knowing whether to believe her or not.

"The birth will be tragic,"

Maven slaps her hand away as I lean into Maven again. This went a step too far.

"Let's go," Maven says turning away.

"Wait!" I hear Elena call from behind me. "I need their names! I need their names!"

Wait.

I stop dead in my tracks. What did she just say?

"Names?" I ask her, looking back at her.

She chuckles. "Right, I forgot to mention, Mare darling, you are expecting twins."

I can't tell whether to be excited or nervous.

"Two girls," She says again, looking taunting as she patiently waits for my response.

I guess it was good that Maven and I discussed names before.

I take a deep breath before answering.

"Ruby and Luna,"