Naming of the Heir

[Syren de Winter]

Syren reached up to toy with the ends of his long hair affectionately, listening as he told of how he knew the men whose names he had suggested. When he spoke of the boy Connor, it seemed like he was holding back, but the look on his face prevented her from asking more of him. If he wished to speak of it, he would, so she let it slide, instead smiling when he decided on the name of the king of old for their baby. She leaned in to kiss him lightly, pleased with their decision.

"Jaxon it is." She said softly, rubbing her belly tenderly, "or Cara." She added, just in case it was a girl. She would love their baby either way, and she was sure Viktor would be pleased no matter what. Tilting her head down, she rested her forehead against his contentedly. Once she had thought she would never be happy here, in this frozen land... but while she didn't plan to spend the rest of her life here, she was happy with Viktor right now. "We're having a baby." She whispered excitedly, as though it just became real.

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[Viktor de Winter]

"Jaxon or Cara;" He agreed; then grinned when she said they were having a baby; as if she just now found out; and had not been growing for months and months. "With luck it will be a boy; for while I would not mind either; if a girl proves anything like her mother; it will be more work then I am ready to invent in for next half of my life." He told her in a amused tone; knowing that he rather liked the baby's mother.

"Constant disappearing; never knowing what animal will be underfoot; and the little innocent looks that are aimed to keep her out of trouble." He continued to tease her; "Then she will get older; and the men will come around." Viktor knew that male or female he needed to get them out of Winter Land and somewhere better for the child. A kingdom for the son to rule; and somewhere with less trouble for the girl. "I foresee that I will begin beheading men in a dozen years if it is a girl."

[Syren de Winter]

She giggled as he described what their daughter would be like, giving him a slightly offended look, she pouted at him. "If she's like her mother, you needn't worry about the men coming around. She'll be perfectly capable of keeping them at bay herself." She reminded him of how she had denied him his desires until their wedding night, and she hadn't any father or knights to defend her honor. Of course, Viktor would never have forced himself on her like some of the criminals down below might. She would keep her daughter well away from them.

"And what about a boy like his father? One who respects no rules but the ones he makes himself?" She tugged on one of his braids, not hard, but enough to get his attention. "He'll be clever enough to get all the other little boys to follow his lead, and he'll lead them straight into whatever trouble is the nearest. Taking what he wants, and when he gets older? Why, he'll be the worst for charming his way into all the young ladies' skirts, we'll have angry fathers trying to kill him every other week!" She teased, he might be worried about young men going after their daughter, but what about when their son went after other's daughters? "A dozen years might be a bit soon... no man is allowed to look at my baby until she's at least twenty. Or you have my permission to behead him."

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[Viktor de Winter]

She spoke of a son like his father and Viktor refrained from reminding her that he had ran away from home; killed a man; then built a kingdom out of criminals; and married a princess. If the son was anything like the father; Viktor had not doubt he would lay claim to the whole bloody island of Olindia. "I am not a skirt chaser!" He scoffed; taking his turn to be mockingly offended. "No father has ever wanted to kill me for offense given to his daughter." He paused for a moment; "Aside from yours; but that wasn't because he thought I was under your skirt."

While he knew the news of her father's death had hurt her; looking back he was rather glad someone had beat him too it. It would be awkward to marry the girl after killing her father. "I think it might be best if we make plans to claim Summer Land should be be a son or daughter. She might be safer down there from the type of men up here." He paused again before he grinned; "Then again you where not."

[Syren de Winter]

She laughed when he scoffed and claimed not to chase skirts, then rolled her eyes. "Oh, I'm so sure. I've heard stories," she informed him matter-of-factly. "Women talk." And here, the class divisions were not so strong as where she was from. Women from all walks of life, from beggar to queen, could carry on a conversation and no one would so much as blink. It had been strange at first, but Syren was getting used to it, and she was growing fond of her people here.

She didn't dwell on the mention of her father's death, preferring not to dwell on it and ruin the moment. "I thought that was the plan regardless?" She said, he knew she wanted to go home, and she refused to watch her father's damn bastard --who she would NOT call brother-- rule where it was her place, or that of her children. In Summer Land the law demanded that a man rule; but not a man of illegitimate birth. "I would rather not have my children grow up knowing nothing but ice and snow."

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[Viktor de Winter]

"It is the plan; but with a son we have more claim; and more right." Her people would look to such things; and he lacked an army. He had men; men who were used to fighting things larger and stronger then them. They could stand equal to two or three men of the Summer Land army! But they out numbered them five or more to one! Whatever plan he made; he had to make it with care.

Had they not told her mother of their marriage; then Merek might have come for her; or another kingdom might have been swayed by her mother's tears. They lost the advantage when he allowed a letter to her mother. "I have never been able to deny you anything you wanted; if you wish for Summer Land; I will find a way to to remove your kin from power." He would just need a plan.

[Syren de Winter]

She frowned, the throne was theirs by right no matter what sex their children were! Merek had no right! But she knew that since they did not already hold the castle and the throne, that right now they only had a claim. A claim that would be strengthened by a son. She knew little of warfare, but she knew that Viktor would do whatever he could to take back her lands. She kissed him again, glad that he was so eager to give her what she wanted.

"He is not my kin," she reminded him. Syren had never been willing to acknowledge the bastard as a part of her family; he was some commoner who was trying to take what was hers. Perhaps if he were willing to give back her kingdom without a fight, then he could have some kind of title or acknowledgement, but as long as he denied her was was rightfully hers, he was no relation of hers.

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