A/N: It jumps around a bit and it's not too good but something big happens at the end so....

About four weeks later, after Zephrine read the spell over again and saw it had to be performed on a full moon, which she had missed my a literal day, she had taken the ingredients and hidden them away in her chambers so Xavier couldn't find them. She placed a spell on the feathers so they wouldn't stink and they'd stay fresh. Vana was actually asleep when Zephrine went down to check on her, so she carefully entered the cell and took a lock of hair, heart beating so loudly in her ears it reminded her of Xavier's ball, when the music swelled even outside.

The ball seemed like it took place twenty years ago to Zephrine, purely because of all that had happened to her and Xavier.

"You'd rather have a picnic with Seyr than with me?" Xavier faked a pout and kissed Zephrine's forehead lightly.

"I eat with you everyday, Xavier. Let me have some time with my dragon. I fear she's beginning to feel left out." She rubbed his arms, forcing herself to look him in the eye. She hated having to go behind his back with the spell, but she had no other choice.

"Fine. But I have a big surprise planned for you when you come back." Xavier's smile perfectly matched the one he wore when they first met.

"Now I'm excited. But I really should go see Seyr." Zephrine gave him one last kiss before leaving. The sun was shining bright and the grass was a brilliant green. Servants waved at her as she passed, and she waved back at them, just as she'd seen Xavier do.

Seyr looked Zephrine square in the eye as she approached. "Zephrine, this spell you want to do is dangerous. It's black magic."

"You think I don't know that?" Zephrine shot back at her. Lately, her mood had been fluctuating dramatically, and she wasn't entirely sure as to why. She assumed, since it had been a month, that it was just her natural processes. (A/N: Ladies you know what I'm sayin') "And how did you even know I was-"

"We're connected. But that's beside the point. Zephrine, you're working with forces far more powerful than you could dream of."

"I think I can handle it."

"No! Zephrine, listen to me, if you do this spell, it will go wrong." Seyr's eyes were wild now.

"And why's that?"Zephrine crossed her arms.

"The spell requires a part of two people. If you do it the way you want to, you'll be working with three."

"What do you mean?"

Seyr cast her gaze downwards. Zephrine followed the trajectory. Seyr didn't have to say anything more. 

"No..."

"I'm afraid so."

"What happens if I do the spell now?"

"It'll die. And if, and only if you're lucky, you'll survive."

"I have to go see Rhys." Zephrine shook her head, holding onto her stomach. She wanted to run, but something in her gut twisted, making her feet move at a light jogging pace. She felt as if she were about to be sick.

"Rhys?" Zephrine tapped lightly on the open door. Rhys was pouring over a medical book, herbs in either hand.

"Do you have to use the bathroom?" Rhys barely looked up.

"All the time."

"Good. I'll go get a needle."

"What? Is that necessary?"

"I know why you came to me, I'm not stupid." He handed his sister a bowl. "It's the best I could do on short notice. Go into the bedroom and relieve yourself, but don't dump it out, bring it to me." 

Zephrine did as Rhys asked, no matter how weird, and when she returned, Rhys stuck an iron needle in the bowl, then set it down on the table.

"Now I'm even more confused."

"Wait a couple minutes, you can just get my lavender and sage for me. Light herbs, try not to smell any of the stronger ones."

Rhys practically had a full garden in front of him by the time he took the needle out of the bowl.

"I know we're siblings, but fishing around in my piss is a little odd. Even for you."

"Just as I suspected, red rust." Rhys sighed, though he was smiling. "Are you going to tell Xavier?"

"He deserves to know. Besides I think it's one of those things he'll find out sooner or later. I'd prefer sooner."

"That's true." Rhys nodded. "Well, go. Go tell him. Unless you want me to waste more of my needles in your urine."

"Less favorable. It was weird enough seeing you do it once."

As she made her way into Xavier's chambers, barely opening the door, she saw him leaning over his desk, quill in hand, paperwork nearly reaching higher than his head on either side of him.

"So, Xavier, you remember when you said you wanted to produce two heirs?" Zephrine came up behind Xavier as he was dipping his quill into the inkwell and took a deep breath.

"Odd thing to bring up. But I do remember. Why do you ask?" Xavier set some papers aside.

"Well... it appears we're halfway there."

"I don't understand." Xavier stopped short, quill frozen in midair. "I mean, I think I understand, but say it point blank, so I know."

"I'm pregnant."

A/N: Yes the needle was a real medieval pregnancy test. They did that.