Rhiadora was exhausted. She leaned back in her chair and set down her quill. With her left hand she rubbed at the aching pain in her right. Too many missives to write. A hurricane of events left little time for reflection, but she took this chance now to take a breath and think. It was quiet. For now.

How true the words of her dear friend! The crown was indeed heavy on the young queen's head. Rhiadora let her thoughts wander back to the events earlier that day....

Speaker Rhiadora entered the dim prison cell and glanced around the room quickly to assess the situation. Several of the kingdom were there, looking a bit unsure. She glanced down to where the dark elf lay, barely conscious and in a small pool of blood. Matron Ursah Ka'vanth groaned and mumbled weakly, complaining of pain and the time being too soon. Rhiadora ordered the Matron's hands unbound and watched as it was made so. The Sha'falas rolled her onto her back, and Rhiadora hesitantly knelt down beside the woman, who still was slipping in and out of consciousness.

Rhiadora felt an angry burning well up in her heart as she gazed down at this dark elf enemy. Enemy of her people. Enemy who descended from ancestors who murdered and betrayed. Enemy who now brought murder again. Rhiadora couldn't help but fantasize about sitting there and watching this Matron die. Let the traitor die. Let it be example now that Shalonesti will not tolerate the actions of House Ka'vanth. Let her baby die. Let this baby's death finally avenge the death of Lady Pythia Shalonost's unborn child who was killed at the hands of dark elves so long ago...

It would be so easy. But not so easy to deal with the consequences that would follow if Ursah and her baby died. Rhiadora held no love for any dark elf. But she did hold a deep love for the kingdom. She didn't want to fan the political flames that were already burning. She forced aside her own desires of the moment and remembered the greater picture.

"We need her to live," Rhiadora stated, and glancing down at the spreading pool of blood at Ursah's legs she added, "Both of them."

She knew this wasn't going to be pleasant. Some of the elves in the room were still hesitant, but Rhiadora was glad that they began to helping alongside her. But it wasn't enough. Tyriel, a ranger, had some herbs to ease the pain of Ursah's contractions, but it wasn't going to heal her or help the baby. Where were the clerics and druids when you needed them? Each passing minute seemed eternity and things were only worsening.

Rhiadora was at a loss.

A familiar greeting of a dear friend echoed in Queen Rhiadora's mind. Frazen! She was hesitant to ask, but she had no other choice. Matron Ursah was slipping farther into death's grasp, which meant certain death for the baby as well. Thankfully it wasn't long before Frazen arrived on the scene.

After a quick evaluation and discussion of options, the premature baby came into the world. Regent Linot Sha'enras tended the infant while Frazen began a quick prayer over Ursah. He layed his hands upon her head and she fell asleep, her wounds fully healed and her pain gone.

Rhiadora's attention turned to the baby in Linot's arms. It took several tries for Linot to stir a response from the infant. His cries were weak and sporradic at best, but Rhiadora sighed in relief. At least the thing was alive... Somewhat. But what to do with it?

It didn't take long to decide. The child would have to go to Verminasia. Rhiadora wouldn't allow it in Shalonesti for several reasons. Plus if the child was doomed to die because of its early birth, it could die in the care of its own kind. Shalonesti would be free of that liability.

Master Lyan, its father, arrived and soon a few others from Verminasia as well. Of course they were angry. Of course they blamed everything on the young queen. Of course they continued to twist and misconstrew things. Of course they were blind to see Shalonesti's service. Ungrateful fools. It came as no surprize.