A/N: Well here I am, at the beginning of a new series. The other day I was bored, andI wanted to write a story about each of our TortallansWhen they were pregnant. Well, I've seen a series about them finding out, and a couple about them giving birth, and I didn't want to copy anyone. So I decided on writing about how they told their husbands that they were going to be fathers. I put all the names of the characters I wanted to use in a little tupperware and the first one I pulled out was Kalasin.

So please read and enjoy (and review?). If you have any suggestions or questions, please feel free to ask. Thanks! -LOB

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tell Him
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter One: Kalasin of Carthak
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Empress Kalasin of Carthak rose from her bed. The imperial physicians who, just minutes ago were swarming her, left the room; Kalasin shooed her ladies after them. She wanted to be alone to digest the news of her pregnancy.

How could this have happened? she thought. She had left her charm to ward off babies in Tortall, unused in her old bedchambers. In the Imperial Estates, Kalasin had her own suite of rooms, adjacent to the emperor's , but still separate; she was barely ever in Kaddar's bed. He didn't want her to ever feel uncomfortable.

A gown lay draped across a lounge chair. Kalasin walked over to it and fingered the gold lace at the cuff. As she shed her midnight blue robe, the door opened.

With the morning light, Kaddar could see all the outlines of his wife, through her plain cotton nightgown. According to his healers, that shape would soon be changing.

"Kalasin?" he called, making his presence known. As he drew nearer, Kalasin dropped to a low curtsy, head bowed. Kaddar reached down and put a hand on her chin, lifting her face towards his.

"You are Empress of Carthak. You look down to no one," he said, helping her to her feet. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes. "Kalasin… may I call you Kally?"

Kally nodded and Kaddar continued.

"Are you alright, Kally?"

"I'm fine," she said, wandering over to the window. The physicians told him, Kalasin thought. Otherwise he wouldn't be here. "I'm just… tired," she said aloud.

"Are you sure?" Kaddar asked. He stood behind her and drew his arms around her waist. His chin rested on her right shoulder so their faces were cheek to cheek.

"Kaddar… I don't think we're ready for this. I mean, we can- be together, and we can have a baby, but we can't talk? Do we even have anything in common? How can you trust someone you barely know?"

"I know you're right," Kaddar said thoughtfully. "We don't talk." Here he paused, then kissed her cheek and continued. "Was there anything in particular that you wanted to day to me?"

Kally was thoughtfully quiet. Then she turned around, still in the circle of the emperor's arms.

"I'm terrified," she whispered. "I don't know how to be a mother, or have babies. I want nothing more than for my own mother to hug me and tell me that everything will be alright."

"I'd love to grant you that; it's nearly impossible with the war. Maybe I could stand in for her?" Kaddar suggested. "Would I suffice?"

Kally grinned and nodded, picturing the emperor in one of her mother's low-cut ball gowns. She leaned her head onto his chest. Kaddar pulled her closer and tightened his grip. He leaned in so that he could whisper right into her ear.

"Everything is going to be alright."

"I love you," she returned. "Strangers that we are."