Hey everyone! I'm on a role lately with EA stories. :) Hope you like this one!

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

The Queen wasn't what the people expected. Indeed, she wasn't what anyone had expected; but when Prince Henry brought home his bride the court could not help but fall in love. Danielle de Barbarac was charming and intelligent as well as uniquely beautiful. It was no wonder the Prince chose to marry for love. Even as a princess, she disliked being waited on. She insisted on doing just about everything on her own, bathing and dressing especially. The rumor was that the new princess had a collection of unsightly scars from beatings she received as a child (heard from a chambermaid who had accidentally seen them, of course); the truth was that they were much fresher than anyone could imagine. She disliked being indoors, and she could often be found digging in her own personal garden, as she was now, where she would dig and prune until nightfall.

The sun warmed the skin of her back through the expensive burgundy silk gown she wore, which was surely ruined by the garden soil, but as she wiped a sheen of sweat off her brow with the back of her hand she couldn't help but smile. These roses had taken a year of nurturing to grow and now the branches were full of fat pink blossoms. Henry had brought them back with him during a trip to Navarre as a gift and Danielle could not have been more pleased if he had brought her all the precious jewels in the world. She rocked back onto her heels carefully, lifted one of the blossoms to her nose and inhaled. The sweet perfume it emitted was intoxicating. Taking up a pair of shears, she clipped the thorns and stem and took another deep breath.

"I love that look," came a voice from behind her. Danielle turned her head and smiled, the rose still pressed to her nose. Henry was leaning casually in the gateway, arms and feet crossed, with a content smile on his face. She wanted to jump up and embrace him; her husband had been in Paris for the last three months and she had many things to tell him.

"How long have you been standing there?" she asked.

"Long enough to know that you stick your tongue out when you are concentrating especially hard." he teased, crossing the little garden paths with long stride to help her stand.

"I do not!" she protested, but he only smiled.

"And to see that even covered in muck, you're beautiful as ever." She smiled at that and kissed him sweetly.

" But you couldn't see my face, you were behind me all the while."

"Ah, but you see, I know you well enough to predict how you'll look. And there's a little hole in the hedge." Danielle smacked his arm lightly.

"Well, since you've been so rude as to interrupt me, how do you like my roses?" Danielle held the rose she'd plucked up for him to smell. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"Beautiful." he said simply, folding her into his arms for another kiss. "I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you, too, my dearest. And I have some exciting news." Danielle could not stop herself from grinning when he raised an eyebrow. She took his hand and placed it over the bodice of her gown. Underneath, he could feel her stomach was round and firm, and his eyes grew larger and brighter with the discovery.

"Are you…" he trailed off, but didn't need an answer. Her smile said everything he needed to know.

With that, he swept her up off the ground and spun around the way he had when she had agreed to be his wife. Her red-gold hair flew out behind her as she laughed - high, clear and lovely, and kissed him sweetly.

That night at dinner, the happy couple announced to the entire court their joyous news. The dining hall exploded with cheers and applause and later many courtiers offered their congratulations. Yes, it was no wonder the prince chose to marry for love, for surely their child would be the most beloved of all.

R&R, please and thank you!