Chapter 408 – Sleeping Arraignments

*** Elora ***

Once again, I'm the odd one out. No, not once again, I'm still the odd one out. Maybe Elyne is going to come back when Alzi's Aunt is locked up in a cell or something. I should've visited Isda.

But I have Sedriresa, my baby, and a promise. I managed to fix things. I actually did it. My love even brought me along, so I don't have to wait like I was going to make her wait.

"Your Highness," Sedriresa says. "I do not think they will be giving us a new room."

"I know," I say. "We have what we need here."

"We may have the needed furniture, your Highness, but we're missing a door."

"That is fine. The Priestess promised us privacy. They wouldn't lie to us. They do not need to lie to me. I promised Alzi loyalty. If this is where we are staying the night, then so be it. Alzi has more to worry about than my comfort."

The room has two cribs for some reason, but a large enough bed for a few women to sleep comfortably. It will be unsettling not having some privacy, but I was missing that in Fertility's temple already, and there's no need to worry about something like that tonight. They won't want to mess with a Goddess, even if she is just a child.

The question I should've asked is about my daughter's name. I was in Fertility's temple, and I didn't even pray to her, but I had Alzi to worry about. I'll give her my thanks the next chance I get.

"I still don't know why we couldn't go up to the castle."

"I know you want me to be able to rest and sleep well, along with our child," I say. "But this is enough. It really is."

"You..."

"I've slept on dirt and stones plenty of times. I haven't grown that weak after just one child."

"I know, Your Highness," Sedriresa sighs. "But that birth wasn't normal, and I want this for more than just you. Nanoka and everyone else should all have a bit of privacy, too. Queen Alzi needs her rest as well. The Dragons caused us all a lot of stress, and then we all got thrown into caves when we came up here on such short notice."

"Alzi needs to help Zarzi," I say. "Alzi hasn't asked for more. What right does some fiancé have to demand more when the Queen is fine with this?"

The Goddess starts to cry again. I worry a lot about her. She always seems hungry. Is my milk not enough? I'm sure Alzi's is better for the babies, but I've been nearly constantly feeding her since Alzi left. "Come on, baby," I say. "Mommy has you. Please try to let me know if something is wrong with my milk." The one good thing is that whatever Alzi did to me when we were staying with Fluvis has kept going. I'm never out of milk for our baby.

I just need to get Sedriresa prepared to help. I know it hurts her that I have to do all the feeding right now.

"Sedriresa, go to bed. I'll join you when she's full," I say. There's a chair next to the cribs, so I sit there and gently rock as my baby feeds. I'm a bit sore, but I can't help but smile at the little girl. I did it. I brought something beautiful into the world. Now, I just have to help my people. Will you support me? I'll need help. Alzi told me her problems to my face, and I couldn't fix them. I'll need someone to tell me how. I'll listen better this time, I swear, my baby.

"Please, wake me when you are done. I'll burp the baby, Your Highness," Sedriresa says. "You need the sleep."

"I will," I say.

"You're going to be doing that forever," Geta says. "Sorry. I was told to go to this room. Space and Dragon weren't happy about moving me around, apparently."

"I was wondering what was causing us to be staggered and delayed so much," I say. "What do you mean by forever?"

"Why do you think you haven't run out of milk? The only other woman in the world who wouldn't run out is Alzi. You're feeding the Goddess of Lactation, Milk, or Breastfeeding. All of them work. She'll suck on your teat until the world ends if you let her."

"But she was crying," I say. "She needed this."

"No, she's full. She just knew you didn't know, and she wanted more," Geta says. "If you are really worried, I can take over while you two sleep. I think Shimmer will be joining us as well, so you may want to wait before sleeping."

"Where is Shimmer?" Sedriresa asks.

"She doesn't trust the Priestesses. She didn't make a scene, but she wasn't moving forward either. She has a lot of reasons to be scared. She is holding a royal dragon as a phoenix while not being fully married to Alzi, and Alzi isn't in love with her."

"Please, take Milk," I say. That is going to be a hard name to get used to. I'll have to test out the different names Geta just gave us. Maybe one of them will work out. "I'll go get Shimmer. I should've waited for everyone. I just moved forward. I've lost myself too much. Please, Geta. Thank you."

"Very well," Geta says. "We have splintered too much. We need to get all of us together again and fix the cracks."

"Yes. I should've forced it. I- I've made too many mistakes. I'll work to be better," I say. How far did I fall? I- I was ready to end it all for Alzi, and I couldn't even keep her wives in good standing with each other. I thought they all were fine and were just excluding me. Was Shimmer just trying to force herself in?

Geta comes and takes my baby from me. I swear, Lactation is pouting and squinting at Geta right now. Was she really convincing everyone not to say anything to me? I'll have to make sure she knows I'll be happy to feed her plenty. I'll treat all of my kids just like how my Mother treats Irlo.

"Your Highness," Sedriresa says. "Your breasts are out."

"Oh, yes, thank you," I say just before leaving the room, out through the strange cave entrance. It's mostly a straight path back to the entrance, and Shimmer really is there, sitting in the corner, staring at a Priestess who is just standing there. I'm sure the Priestess has a warm smile on her face, waiting for Shimmer to follow her.

"Shimmer," I say. "We have room for you and your baby," I say. "Geta is with us. It'll be safe."

"I told her that," the Priestess says. "But I think my Goddess put some scary thoughts in her head on the way over. I'll leave you two be."

"Thank you," I say.

Shimmer relaxes when the Priestess walks away. And then she starts to cry.

I sit next to her and put my arm over her shoulder and pull her in. "Are you ok?" I ask.

"It felt like I was going to die. It's too much. The kid was always Alzi's child. I never wanted to steal her. You believe me, right? I just wanted a baby! I didn't want to trick her, but I had to trick you. And I was already hers. How could I take my kid away from my mate?"

"I know. I know. We'll just have the Goddess of Space take us back home or find a different way. Then we'll have you give that same promise in their presence so Alzi knows it's the truth. We're fixing this. Slowly, but it is getting better. I promise. She's even forgiven Azula De Vil for the most part, I think. I probably shouldn't be guessing about that. She'll love you again. But let's get some sleep. You'll be safe with us. A Goddess, and a Valkyrie."

"They want my kid."

"It's their Queen's kid. They can't just take her from the Queen. Alzi hasn't said anything, so you'll be fine. This must be why Geta is here: to keep everyone safe. She's recovered, for the most part. She may be pregnant, but she's the strongest alive after the true dragon and phoenixes. And we even have one of those. She's probably stronger than the true dragon, even."

"Thank you, Elora. I'm sorry for ignoring you."

"I deserved it. I could've fixed all of this the very night I took Alzi. I didn't, and I got my punishment, with more to come. I can't blame you for deceiving me. I forced everyone to betray me with my rules."

"You really did."

"Let's get some sleep in a bed. It'll be nice to share it with my wives again."

"Sure," Shimmer says.

*** Victoria ***

What the fuck am I doing in this damn cave? Stacy is fucking close to being due, but I'm nowhere fucking near that bitch, and I'm sure Alzi is going to need to help the poor dumbass. She could get smart and pick a fucking bigger body to give birth in, but she doesn't seem to have the fucking brains to come up with that solution. As a damn giant, the baby would slide right out of her fucking cunt. Alzi probably forgot about the bitch. But Stacy is a fucking slave; she can take a bit of fucking pain.

And Kelly can help the fucker, so there's no need to fucking worry about her. I'm just looking for a reason to bitch about not being in my own fucking damn bed.

But why the fuck do I need to be here? Couldn't I have just fucking come along tomorrow or some shit? There's no need to drag my ass over here after facing a damn Queen. Fucking crazy. Sure, I wasn't fighting a fucking Queen directly, but it was still her fucking top guards! And with just the crazy fucking bitch to help me against the flying fucks. Poor Fluvis and Estrella had to handle the actual bitch Queen.

Fucking hell. I'll just watch over that bitch Aunt.

"You don't need to do that," a Priestess says.

"The fuck're you on about?" I ask. "I didn't say shit to you."

"I'm trying to direct you to a room, and you're trying to go to the dungeons. I'm not sure why you know the direction to go to watch over the prisoner, but you don't need to go there. The others will be joining you shortly in your room. We have a few, so you can all spread out, or share if you like."

"Do you think I'm trusting you fucks? You all fucking started a war, and now, you want me to trust you with that bitch?"

"You can go see her, and then you really should sleep. You've had a long day and deserve some rest. We are loyal to the Goddess and the Queen. Alzi is now the Queen, and the Goddess fully supports her. We have no reason to let the prisoner go free, or even have a peaceful time."

"I'm not getting fucking fooled like the others," I say. "Fuckers that said they supported Alzi have fucked her over too many times. I'm watching that bitch until her head has been split from her fucking neck. Don't fucking think you can get my ass to leave that bitch again. Damn, Elyne, taking off without my ass."

"Very well," the Priestess says. "We are just trying to get you all into bed as quickly as possible. I don't know why you are being so difficult."

"You fucks invaded us. Don't act fucking stupid. You fucking know exactly why we're all being a pain in the fucking ass." I should've fucking forced myself to be right next to Alzi before we teleported. Then I could've watched these bitches and made sure we all did the right fucking thing. Instead, I'm playing catch-up while Shimmer is crying on her ass. Hopefully, Geta or someone else picks that bitch up. Alzi shouldn't see that fucking pathetic display from her shitty wives.

The dungeons are fucking freezing. Did they fucking recruit Lensa to build this shit? My damn nipples are going to break through my fucking armor at this rate! Fucking crazy bitches.

"Why am I freezing my damn tits off?"

"Dragons are stored here. They hate the cold."

"Fucking everybody hates the damn cold," I huff. My breath even clouds my damn vision for a fucking second. The bitch Aunt is only a few fucking cells down, so I don't have to deal with the fucking cold for long to see the bitch. They've even chained the fucker to a stone bed. I'll just fucking trust them so I don't turn into a damn ice cube. Fuckers. "Fuck. I'll go to fucking sleep."

"Good," the Priestess says. "This way. We have a bed ready for you. We aren't sure about the relationships. We know you were added later than the rest to the marriage, so we gave you a separate room to start."

"That fucking works," I say. "Is it close to this fucking bitch? I need to be able to fucking quickly check in on the bitch."

"Yes, it is close by."