Chapter 37 - Lilas

"So is Naghig still causing problems?" I ask as we finish discussing military matters. Over the past few weeks we've been contacting merchants to ask for their help in transporting supplies to the border and most have been very willing to help, for reduced costs compared to their usual rates. All except Naghig a rich and powerful orc merchant, which creates a problem as the other orc merchants follow his lead.

"Yes all our attempts to talk to him have failed. I even invited him over to dinner, as did other members of the Council, hoping that a less formal meeting would be better but he refused that demanding that as Borgan isn't here that he'll only speak with you, your Majesty." Uncle informs me.

"Summon him to meet me here then." I demand scowling at the stubbornness of Naghig. All the other merchants were able to see beyond their own interests for the sake of keeping our army well supplied yet Naghig doesn't seem able to.

"Unfortunately after receiving a dinner invite from various members of the Council he's insisting on the same type of meeting with your Majesty." Raziel says his voice bored and disinterested as usual, I've been working to find a replacement for him but with so many away fighting it's proving difficult.

"How is it that a merchant has us in the position to be making such demands?" I growl out not pleased at the idea of having to sit through a dinner with Naghig. Hosting him for dinner will require Emmy to there and I don't want to put her through that not while she's so uncomfortable.

"Naghig has a monopoly on merchant vessels in the east. We need those boats to get supplies up north as quickly as possible to be transported the rest of the way on land. The few boats that he doesn't outright own belong to merchants that are afraid to cross him as he could easily destroy their business." Kavarthon tells me just as annoyed as I am. He'd started the conversations to arrange this so he's been dealing with Naghig for longer than the rest of us.

"Very well, I will speak with the Queen and let you know when we can host him for dinner. That should be the end of the matter and if it isn't I want a list of alternatives prepared plus any ways that we can deal with Naghig. He can't be allowed to undermine us at a time like this." I state standing and walking out of the meeting hall done with the meeting.

I'm not looking forward to telling Emmy about this, not only has she been uncomfortable lately but the Healer has made it clear that we should keep her stress to a minimum. Too much stress and she could go into labour early something that she's already at risk of so much so that in a few weeks we're looking at complete bed rest until the birth.

The walk home helps me clear my mind and calms down some of my anger. It's just another one of things I hate about being King, before our ascension we'd been on the same level as the Council but now we're on a different level so the expectations are much higher. Since Naghig won't listen to the Council he's been passed up to me to handle directly whereas before this wouldn't have happened.

Getting home I dismiss Versum and Larek from their guard duty as I enter the drawing room where Emmy is reading with some of her ladies keeping her company. As has become usual the ladies say their goodbyes now that I'm back giving me and Emmy some time alone together which we don't get too much of lately. It seems that every Council meeting is running longer than the last as the action at the border increases every day.

"Welcome back Lilas. How was the meeting?" Emmy asks as she does everyday desperate for the news that it's all over.

"Tedious as always." I reply sitting down next to her helping her shift slightly to rest her back against me in what's hopefully a more comfortable position for her, "That merchant Naghig is still causing a problem for us and the only solution we have now is to invite him to have dinner here with us so that I can talk him round."

"When?" She asks sounding uncomfortable still. I'm powerless to help though as nothing short of giving birth will help now.

"We don't have a date yet I said I'd speak with you first before confirming anything. If you're not comfortable with having the dinner here I can arrange to meet him somewhere else so that you can rest."

"No I'll be fine with having the dinner here. Perhaps some time within the next week although we should speak to Nuela about it first, I don't think that I could handle organising the dinner right now." I lean down slightly whispering a thank you as I press a kiss to her head. We fall quiet as she rests against me falling into a light sleep.

I'll speak to Nuela soon about organising the dinner and finding out when she thinks she can have it ready by. Naghig had better be able to attend the date we send because if he doesn't then he's not getting the meeting he wants instead he'll probably be pulled up in front of the Council and made to sort everything out there. This is my last attempt at solving his issue peacefully.

Emmy naps for a short while before waking again, wordlessly moving one of my hands to her stomach so that I can feel the baby kicking which no doubt woke her up. Feeling our child kick is a type of magic that I'm not used to and never truly thought that I'd ever experience. Now though it's happening more often as the baby grows bigger everyday although the kicks can happen at the worst of times. Lately Emmy has been sleeping less and less due to the baby kicking or just general discomfort.

"Are you good here while I go and speak to Nuela about the dinner?" I ask quietly not wanting to move if it'd make her uncomfortable. Sleepily she nods her head so we slowly adjust ourselves until I can stand up and Emmy's reclining against some pillows in my place.

With a promise to be back soon I leave the room as quietly as I can asking the first servant I see for Nuela's location. She's easily located in her office working on inventory when I knock on her door.

"Your Majesty." She greets in surprise standing up to curtsy but I wave her off, "Is there something I can help you with?"

"Yes unfortunately." I sigh still annoyed at having to do this, "The Council have been having problems with a merchant so have asked us to host him for a dinner to make him more agreeable. I agreed so long as Emmy was comfortable with it, which she is, but with how exhausted she is lately we were hoping that you could arrange the dinner?"

"Of course, did you have a date in mind?" She agrees quickly knowing just how draining this pregnancy is becoming for Emmy.

"Some time in the next week but the sooner the better."

"Very well. I should be able to have a suitable dinner prepared to place three days from now, I'll begin working on it right away."

"Thank you Nuela." I say taking my leave to give her the peace and quiet to start organising this short notice dinner. Gods she deserves a pay raise, as does Tehlmar, with how they've been keeping everything running so well with all the changes happening around us.

Returning to the drawing room I find Emmy up and walking around rubbing her stomach gently. I find her doing this sometimes when the baby won't settle down, she'll walk around talking quietly to the baby which does eventually work.

"… take you flying. I'm sure that you'll love it, especially if you're Kor's baby like we think you are. He'll teach you how to fly on your own once you're big enough." She mutters to the baby as I walk closer wrapping my arms around her letting my hands rest on her stomach as well. Telling the baby about Kor and Bel is one of her favourite topics since they can't be here to talk to the baby themselves.

"Ready to sit back down?" I ask as the baby settles down not long after I get there. Nodding I help her back over to the settee and letting her lean against me in whatever way she finds comfortable once we're sat down.

"Did Nuela agree?"

"Yes, she believes that she can have everything organised for the dinner to happen in three days. I'll send the invite out tomorrow and make it clear that it's that day or nothing. Enough about that though how was your day?"

"Quiet, I met with Healer Fayeth again. She wants to do more regular checks from now on and I've met with the midwives she's found, there's two of them and both have been present at many births including a fair number of half-dragon births. Ideally they would move into the palace until the birth just in case something happens like the baby coming early."

"That's not a problem we have plenty of spare rooms. It should be easy to move them into some rooms on the floor below ours so that they're close by during the night." It had taken longer than expected to find experienced midwives that met Healer Fayeth's standards to help with the birth especially with the large chance that baby is half-dragon. The wings that the baby will likely be born with requires extra care during her labour.

"Thank you." She mutters shifting slightly against me closing her eyes ready for another nap, "Gods I can't wait for this to be over." I drop a kiss to the top of her head as she drifts off to sleep.

"Me too." I reply knowing that she can't hear me. Lately I can't help but worry about her yet I don't want to add to her worries by letting her know just how concerned I'm becoming. There's still around two months left if she carries to term which Healer Fayeth doesn't seem to believe she will.

True to her word Nuela is able to organise the dinner with Naghig quickly and efficiently. He'd accepted the invite I sent on the same day he received it so the plans went ahead to have everything ready for tonight. Emmy spent the last few days resting in preparation for tonight and has been getting ready for over the past few hours so that she hasn't had to rush.

With only a few dresses available that fit at the moment she's wearing the fur-lined silver dress that Madame Joanna had been able to fit the last time she visited. It's also the only one that's been deemed appropriate by both Talindra and Emmy for tonight's dinner, the rest of the dresses that fit are more casual.

"Are you ready?" I ask as we wait for Naghig to arrive. He shouldn't be much longer as it's close to the time that had been arranged, much longer and he'll be late something that neither Emmy nor I will appreciate.

"As ready as I can be. I just hope he gets here soon." She replies leaning slightly more against me letting me take some more of her weight. The sooner she can sit down the better.

"Naghig the merchant." Tehlmar announces showing him into the dining room where we're waiting for him to arrive. We'd chosen to use our smaller dining room to make him feel more special and make the whole dinner less formal for us as well.

"Your Majesties." He bows in greeting as though he's not very close to being late. Being a warrior race most orcs I've met have been fit and in good condition but Naghig is the total opposite he's over weight and just the short walk from his carriage into the palace has him sweating. "Thank you for inviting me into your home."

"We're happy to have you here." I reply hopefully hiding my frustration. He's making it seem like we'd chosen to invite him to dinner rather than being pushed to it by his refusal to compromise with the Council. "Why don't we take our seats?" Not waiting to see if he agrees I lead Emmy over to her seat pulling the chair out for her.

"The palace is quite beautiful my Queen." Naghig comments as he takes his seat at the table opposite mine. Footmen quickly step up to the table serving our drinks, water for me and Emmy while Naghig is served wine that Tehlmar has ensured will pair well with dinner.

"Thank you although I've had very little to do with it." Emmy replies with a gentle smile.

"With so much happening so quickly since we arrived in Hadlau there hasn't been much opportunity to change anything yet." I add knowing that most ladies are left in charge of the home and how it's decorated. If she wanted to Emmy is more than welcome to redecorate the palace as she wants to but at the moment there is so much going on that it's been pushed aside.

"Ah yes of course. The war has been such a hinderance, any ideas when it'll be over?" He sounds flippant about the whole thing as though it's nothing more than a game. The very idea makes me even angrier with him than I had been before this dinner started and the first course is only just being served.

"Not at the moment. Portions of the rebel army are being wiped out but until Rhistel, the leader, is found and eliminated the war will continue." He simply grunts in return more focused on the food that's in front of him, shovelling it into his mouth in a messy way that I notice is making Emmy slightly green.

"So I know that you're a merchant Naghig but I'm afraid I don't know what sort of business you are in?" Emmy asks trying to draw him into conversation. To get him to commit his ships to sending supplies north we need to get on his good side so showing an interest in his business is the easiest way to start.

"A bit of everything now but I first started out in lumber. Now I'm the wealthiest merchant in the orc cities with interests in almost every industry. Food, clothing, lumber and weapons I have stock in nearly everything that leaves the orc cities now." Naghig brags pausing every now and then to shovel more food into his mouth as soon as the main course is placed in front of him.

"That sounds amazing but also very busy, does it leave you much time for your family?" Emmy inquires politely trying not to look directly at him while he's eating. I can't blame her his table manners are disgusting and with her already delicate stomach it wouldn't take much to make her sick. Already she's picking at her meal never finishing the full course.

"I've never felt the need to spend time with them. My wife and I married out of convenience, she's provided me with an heir to my empire and in return she gets a large amount of money to spend every month. It won't be long before my heir is old enough to start learning the business."

"I'm sure he'll be a credit to you." I comment not sure what else to say. All four of us have always valued family so for someone to not care at all about his own outside of what they can do for him is off-putting.

The dinner continues with stilted conversation although Naghig doesn't seem to notice the strained conversation. He makes no attempt to continue on any conversation we start unless it involves him bragging about his money and business. I almost breathe a sigh of relief when the dessert is served as soon he'll be leaving.

"So Naghig is there anything that is preventing you from allowing the Council to use some of your ships to send supplies north." I ask hoping that this dinner has served its purpose.

"I suppose not since your Majesty has expressed interest as well." He grunts out as he finishes off his dessert, "Not that I see the point of the war and I will be speaking with the Council to determine the appropriate compensation. I won't bother you and the Queen anymore."

With that he takes his leave and I show out of the palace relieved to see the back of him. Tomorrow I'll be able to tell the Council that he's now willing to sit down and talk with them properly about using his ships. Sighing I return to the dining room where I expect to find Emmy still sitting at the table but she isn't there, instead she's throwing up into what is likely a priceless vase.

"Emmy are you alright my love?" I walk over rubbing her back and holding her hair out of the way as she continues throwing up. Thankfully she stops quickly although she takes a while to catch her breath and recover before I walk her back to the table so she can sit down.

"I think that I've seen animals with better table manners than him." She replies weakly as a discreet maid enters with a goblet of fresh water for her and leaves just as quietly taking the soiled vase with her.

"Well it's all done with now. Do you want to go to bed?" I ask concerned about how pale she is.

"Yes please." She mutters leaning against me as I guide her upstairs. Talindra meet us in our bedroom having laid out some night clothes for Emmy and waiting to see if she needs help changing. I wave her off though intending to help her myself, both of us are tired so we'll have an early night to let us both recover from the most exhausting dinner I've attended in years.

"Goodnight my love." I utter kissing her cheek once she's changed and quickly drifting off to sleep under the covers of the bed. Soon enough I've got myself ready for bed and I join her in bed wrapping her in my arms praying to the Gods that she can get enough sleep tonight.