A few days later, Will and Alyss were both summoned to Castle Araluen, without being told why. This wasn't too much of a surprise, considering that Will's report had reached Horace and Cassandra just days before. And during those few days alone, two more buildings had burned down in southern Araluen, with even more deaths reported. The arsonists were striking faster and harder, burning buildings more often and killing more people in the flames. It was inevitable that they would be called to Araluen to make plans on how to deal with this string of crimes.

As Will and Alyss entered through the double doors at Castle Araluen to greet the King, a hush fell over them both and everyone else in the room. It had been a full year now since Duncan had gotten sick, but it still shocked Will every time he saw how pale and thin he had become. Just a year ago he had been perfectly healthy, in prime shape, and planning to rule for another ten years at least. But now, Cassandra had taken over as Princess Regent, and Duncan only appeared for important events and special gatherings, with her at his right hand. He was so sick now that he struggled to remember people and things he had known his entire life. His mind wandered so much that he usually wasn't able to function, but today he seemed well enough to greet everyone as they arrived. 

He and Alyss stepped up to the base of his throne and bowed low. "Your Majesty, it's good to see you up and around," Alyss greeted him cheerfully.

Will nodded in agreement. "Your Majesty, Evanlyn," he bowed to them both.

She rolled her eyes at him. "Come on, Will, none of that. You know better."

He smiled. "I should at least try to show some decorum, Evanlyn, especially in front of the King."

The King's voice was soft, uncertain. He wore proper formal robes, his hair only a bit disheveled, but he would have looked normal if he weren't so slumped over and shakey. Despite his weakness, he smiled at Will with a hint of the strength he used to have. "She's right, Will, and you, Alyss, enough of that. It's good to see the both of you, thank you for coming here on such short notice. I..." he trailed off and gently put his hand over Cassandra's. The glow in his eyes dimmed as his face fell. "She'll fill you in on the situation, I must go rest." He abruptly rose from his chair, stiff as a board and a faraway look in his eyes. He turned and left the hall, instantly accompanied by servants as they helped him find his way.

Cassandra sighed softly, then smiled and gestured to both of them to come and sit with her in chairs next to the throne. "He wanted to see you all today. He's desperate to do normal things, but he forgets what's going on and can't finish them. It's difficult to watch, but... it makes him happy." She bit her lip, swiping her hair out of her face. The pain in her voice was evident. It can't be easy to see your father wither away like this, Will thought.

Alyss reached out and grabbed her hand. "I'm sorry, Cassandra. You know you can always call on me for anything, anything at all."

Cassandra squeezed her hand. "Thank you, Alyss, and I already have. I fear I'm taking advantage of you at this point, even if you are one of my most trusted advisors."

"I'll always be happy to help, don't worry."

Cassandra turned to Will, who had been watching their exchange from the side. "Will, you're rather quiet, everything alright?"

He glanced uncertainly at Alyss, and she nodded. "Evanlyn, we have something really, really important to tell you." He took a deep breath, hesitating.

She watched them both warily. "Is it good or bad? I genuinely can't tell, Will, you look terrified and excited all at once."

"It's good," Alyss assured her, and then she nudged Will to keep going. He gulped once, and then said it. "We're going to have a baby. Alyss is - "

"Pregnant? You're pregnant?" Cassandra flew up out of her seat, her hands over her mouth. She stared Alyss down. "Are you serious? You'd better not be messing with me."

Alyss grinned. "We aren't, I swear. I really am pregnant."

Cassandra laughed and grabbed Alyss, squeezing her tightly in a hug. "Congratulations, both of you! My god, I can barely believe it!" She stepped back from Alyss and then folded herself into Will's arms, too. "I know how long you waited. You must be so relieved."

"We are," he said softly, his eyes meeting Alyss's. They shared a small smile. Cassandra was the first person they had told, and it was an exciting moment for someone else to know their secret.

A deeper voice came from one of the side doors behind the throne. "God's wounds, did I just hear what I thought I heard?"

Cassandra turned toward the door and called, "Darling, get in here, quick! Bring Maddie!"

Will's grinned widened as Horace swung open the door and walked slowly into the room, holding the hand of a toddering Maddie. She was only just barely two years old, so she was still figuring out how to walk by herself. She was a sweet little toddler now, with thick hair and big eyes. She wore a cute little dress and a pair of tiny shoes, one half falling off her foot. She gurgled and smiled up at them all, with not a care in the world. Horace's face, however, was unforgettable, utter shock making his eyebrows climb all the way up his forehead.

"Will, you'd better be joking. Did I mishear that, or you pregnant?"

Will rolled his eyes. "Yes, Horace, you heard right. I'm pregnant."

"And I have nothing to do with this, I'm not involved at all," Alyss added agreeably, her poker face immaculate.

Horace looked between them suspiciously. A long moment of playful silence stretched between the four of them before Maddie broke it. She let out a long, garbled phrase that probably sounded like words in her head, but came out as gibberish.

Will smiled and knelt down next to her. "It's nice to see you, too, Maddie. Did you miss Uncle Will?"

He gripped her under the arms, lifted her up, and held her on his hip as she laughed and gurgled in reply. Alyss reached over and held her tiny hand, saying hello. Maddie responded by trying to kiss her hand, but instead, succeeded in slobbering all over her fingers.

Horace put a hand on Will's shoulder. "All jokes aside, congratulations. I can't wait for Maddie to have a friend to play with." He gave Will a small smile. "You both deserve this, truly. I couldn't be happier for you."

The doors of the hall banged loudly shut behind them, and they turned to see Gilan practically jogging up the long room to meet the group at the throne, dozens of folders balanced on his outstretched arms. He seemed to be, quite literally, up to his ears in work. "Will, thank god you're here. I'm positively swamped with - " he cut himself off as he saw who was with him. "Oh, hello everyone. A nice little reunion, is it?"

Will waved his hand, dismissing the greeting. "Gilan, what's going on? You said you had the arson reports under control, why do you have so much to do?" Gilan, as the new Commandant, had been working closely with Will over the past year to settle into his position and repair the damage that the Gathering attack and Temujai raid had dealt on the Corps. With Crowley's death and Halt's retirement, it had been a massive and challenging transition for both Will and Gilan. As a result, they had been in very close communication, so Will always knew what Gilan was up to, and vice versa. They had been writing back and forth at a furious pace the last few days about the string of arsons, and Will had been under the impression that everything was, for now, under control.

"Oh, no, that's been taken care of," Gilan said ambiguously as he waved cheerfully at Maddie, still in Will's arms. Alyss wordlessly stepped in, taking her out of Will's hands.

Will directed his full attention to him. "Gil, we wouldn't have been called here like this if it wasn't important. What's happened?"

Gilan nodded at Cassandra and Horace behind him. "I'm sure they were about to tell you, before I interrupted you."

"Tell me what?" Will pressed.

"The King of Celtica is visiting Araluen," Cassandra announced from behind him.

Will and Alyss exchanged looks, and then back and forth between Gilan, Cassandra, and Horace. Alyss spoke first. "Why?"

"He has important information on the fires. He insisted on coming, in person, to relay the information," Gilan said.

"In person?" Alyss trailed off, deep in thought.

Will narrowed his eyes. "Is he trying to assure us that they're not his fault? Or is he going to lie? How do we even know he really has anything to do with them?"

Gilan nodded. "He refused to send it in a letter, we don't know why he has to come here to say it."

"He's arriving tomorrow," Cassandra added. "He wanted to speak to you, Will, about your experience in Stamford. But again, he didn't provide any information as to why. He only said it was a sensitive topic and he wanted to hear everything about what was going on. He said he could offer some insights into the perpetrators themselves."

"Strange, and definitely suspicious," Will muttered to himself. He refuses to tell us what's going on, but says he has information about the arsonists? He's pleading guilty of the fires before he even arrives. Unless there's something else he can add that we don't know yet.

Gilan gathered the folders in his hands. "Strange indeed. Before I go and continue trying to organize all this, what was it that I interrupted before I came barging in here? If it's news you have, I want to hear it," he asked Alyss innocently.

Will was still deep in thought, and he stuttered as he tried to pull himself together. "We were just telling Evanlyn and Horace that - that we're - "

"We're expecting," Alyss finished for Will.

"Expecting what?" Gilan frowned, confused.

Alyss, long-suffering yet impossibly patient, wrapped an arm around Will. "A child, Gilan. We're expecting a child."

He only shrugged, a small smile spreading across his face. "Well, it's about time. Congratulations." He nearly dropped a folder, catching it with a single finger. "Will, meet with me as soon as you can. Your Highnesses." And with that, he bowed, turned on his heel, and jogged back out of the hall, the door swinging shut behind him.

"He took that remarkably calmly," Alyss commented.

"Perhaps he's so busy he can't afford to think about it," Horace smiled knowingly. "He's been doing well, it's just been a very sudden change to accommodate a foreign King. He'll be fine, he's a Ranger. You all always figure things out, one way or another."

Will grinned at Horace. "Speaking of Rangers, I'm assuming someone's called Halt in for this as well?"

Cassandra nodded. "Both he and Pauline have been receiving the reports from Gilan even while they were gone, and they should be arriving sometime tomorrow morning, possibly around the same time as the King of Celtica."

"That might be messy," Will shook his head. "I was hoping to talk to him beforehand about all this."

"You'll have your chance," Alyss whispered assuringly and held his hand tightly.

Cassandra took Maddie into her arms, and gestured to Will and Alyss. "Go settle into your usual room, I'll see you both for dinner and then tomorrow for the arrival."

Horace gave Will a proper hug, then the two of them said goodnight to Maddie and took their leave.

As they walked back out of the hall, hand in hand, Alyss leaned into Will's shoulder and said, "Don't worry, you'll tell Halt tomorrow when there's a free moment, it'll all work out."

"I hope so." He glanced worriedly at her, and then squeezed her hand as they turned down the corridor toward their room.