AN: Sorry for not having updated this fic is quite a while. I hope those of you who have been so patient, are enjoying the story so far. Anyway…here we go, chapter 8!

Dryden wearily wiped his heavy brow. The talks had lasted long through the day and dragged almost to the witching hour. Even Allen, who always appeared immaculate, his hair now trimmed short on this head, appeared dishevelled as he left the council room. Dryden had a heavy feeling in his heart. They had resolved that this was not a matter for diplomacy. These people, although victims of a terrifying virus, were their enemy. They weren't a nation, or an army, they were simply a force. Sanctions, talks or treaties would be useless against beings who were more animal than human. The elders, politicians and diplomats had all agreed that the only way to protect Asturia against this threat was military force. Dryden had strongly opposed the idea, saying that many of those "beastmen" were as much Asturian as any gathered at that table, but he soon began to realise they had very little options. Finally the body agreed that action had to be taken as far as defence went, however they would not launch an attack on the infected beast people.

This did not abate the dark danger Dryden felt looming in his heart. This time he wouldn't sit back at the table and dish out men to die. He would be there with them, as their ruler, standing to protect their country. The thought terrified him, but he knew in his heart it would be cowardly to do anything else. Collapsing exhausted into his large leather bound chair, Dryden felt so uncertain, so unsure of what the future held. He knew in his heart that whatever the outcome, the massive loss of life which would result from such a war would haunt him to his grave. There was a heavy guilt weighing upon him: the responsibility for the lives of all the citizens of Asturia. Truth be told, either way he couldn't win.

His thoughts were interrupted abruptly by the slam of his study door. He glanced around tiredly and observed his wife , her shoulders set, jaw clenched, eyes full of tear and burning with anger.

"Dryden, tell me you're not going to war!" She yelped, her voice high and emotional.

Dryden sighed gently and rose from his chair. He slowly made his way over to the doorway. Looking down on her with gentle eyes he reached out a hand to her shoulder, only to have it swatted away.

"Tell me!" She demanded searching his eyes frantically.

Dryden's gaze softened considerably. "I'm sorry Milerna, but I am" He said, resignation clear in his voice.

Her face seemed to fall apart at the seams. "But, why? You're not a solider! You hate war! Why would you…" She didn't finish her sentence but turned her back on him.

Dryden's own face drooped at the sight of her beautiful platinum locks and pink gown. She struggled to compose herself, but failed miserably. What could he say? Everything she'd just said he had to confirm. He knew next to nothing about Guymelefs, although they wouldn't be using them anyway; had never excelled in his fencing, preferred to read about love or finance than war and strategy. What could he bring to the table? Reaching out her turned her around gently. "Don't worry Milerna, I wont leave you a widow" He half joked, hoping that he wouldn't.

Milerna stopped sobbing and stared up incredulously. "Dryden…this isn't about me. It's about you!" His eyes widened with surprise. She looked down red-faced at her hands. "You're not a soldier Dryden, you could easily be killed. I care too much about you to see you…you…" She broke down into tears, and Dryden caught her before she hit the ground. He cradled her against his chest, stroking her hair tenderly. She breathed the musky scent of his aura and felt choked by her tears.

"But I'm their Regent, Milerna, not just the humans but the beast people as well. I can't sacrifice them to one another and I can't allow the state of war be handled by bigots like Alle…" He cut himself off and glanced at the door. He felt Milerna stiffen slightly.

"Isn't there anything I can do to dissuade you?" She pleaded, fearing for the unborn child she carried secretly. This was not the time to blurt her pregnancy to Dryden, but she didn't want him to go off to ward without knowing. She glanced at the ground.

The two shared a mutual silence, both lost in their thoughts. Dryden eventually looked down at his little wife in his arms. He didn't want to leave her, alone, to her misery again. He had known such happiness; such joy with her the past few months. More than he could have hoped for, he had shared her body with her, and his with her; a more beautiful thing he couldn't have imagined. If nothing else he would return from the battle to hold her again. He could surrender the kingdom, his wealth; all his worldly possessions, but to have her in his arms again, he would fight to hell and back.

Dryden pulled her away from him slightly. Lifting her chin, delicately with his long slender fingers, he pushed a stray lock of platinum from her cheek. "Milerna, you know that we leave in the morning, bound for the border." She stared up, eyes dancing with moisture. Sadly she nodded.

"I had hoped I could have changed your mind, but I know your reasons now" She reached to his cheek and stroked the coarse stubble adorning it. "I can't stop you can I?" Her eyes beaded with moisture again. Dryden almost wished he could say yes, abandon the whole sordid matter to someone else and just surrender himself to the little angels pressed against him. Her sudden affection and care for him, flushed his heart with joy, unbridled and pure.

Milerna felt Dryden's fingers swim across the back of her corset, playing wickedly with the taught ties. Milerna's breath caught in her throat, as his other hand worked to ease her sleeve from her shoulder, exposing soft pale flesh, freckled with goosebumps. Dryden stared down so passionately, Milerna felt he might swallow her up in one gulp. She in turn loosened his hair from its usual binding and marvelled at how the thick russet tresses fell about his slender jaw. She could drown in that swarthy skin, those viridian eyes, those broad tanned lips.

Dryden scooped her up in both his arms, cradling her to him. He asked huskily "Will you love me tonight Milerna?" She nodded speechlessly. With that, he carried her to the four poster bed his study provided.

Milerna wept bitterly as Dryden all but collapsed on top of her. Breathlessly, he rolled to her side, pulling her immediately into his arms. She felt his larger ribcage constrict and relax erratically as both their bodies began to relax and wind down. His hot lithe frame, shuddered against her, burning her with its reality. Dryden kissed the top of her head gently, tilting her chin up and looking down exhausted but lovingly. His wife continued to cry, her salty tears mingling with the sweat which had erupted across his chest.

"Millie, I'm here, right now" He breathed almost inaudibly. She curled up against him, her hands losing themselves in his hair.

"Dryden I can't lose you," She sobbed, holding him closely. Dryden felt his heart lurch with compassion and love. She was killing him with her sorrow and sending him to a state of ecstasy with her concern.

He gently sat her over him, wiping the streaking tears with his thumb. Milerna, upright on him, refused to open her eyes and let another wave of horrible foreboding and sorrow hit her. He chuckled lowly and richly. "Hey, hey, it's okay, I'm here. Hey if I didn't know any better I'd say you were in love with me" he grinned.

Milerna opened her eyes slowly, her sobbing ceasing to a gentle hiccup. She stared down into his green eyes, framed in thick dark lashes. She pushed her hands against his chest and ran them slowly up to his neck, raking through the short curly hairs covering his pectorals. He closed his eyes revelling in the sensual feeling she was eliciting in him. Abruptly, he snapped them open again, when he felt her lean over him and push her lips into his. It was a long and wet kiss, passionate and fiery. He gasped when she pulled back, her long blonde hair spilling over her pale form.

"Dryden, I love you" She said so quietly he thought he may have dreamt it.

"What?" he said, eyes wide open in shock, straining against the mattress beneath him. He couldn't have heard her properly.

Her eyes shook with so many different emotions. "I love you" She repeated just as quietly. He grasped her upper arms. Milerna didn't flinch but simply searched his eyes.

Dryden gently pulled her to him; he felt a lump in his throat bigger than he had ever had before. His eyes stung with moisture. Milerna spread her arms around his torso and lay on top of him, resting her head in the crook of his neck. "I love you." She whispered just as before, before falling into a deep sleep.

Dryden however remained awake, stroking the soft flesh of his wife's back. His world was now different to the world he had awoken to that morning. It seemed complete, but at the same time, he realised what loomed with the sun's rise; and dreaded it.

Milerna awoke to the early morning sunlight striping her bed. She turned on her side and reached out sleepily to the body by her side, but when her hand failed to make contact, she opened her eyes. Finding the bed empty she sat up and slowly scanned the room. When she found the tall slender frame of her husband, she felt the sorrow begin to creep back up her throat. He stood with his back to her, a green robe draped over his shoulders, trailing on the floor. His dark chestnut hair hung thick and bouncy down his back as he leant with one arm against the frame of the enormous window. Milerna slid out of bed wrapping the blue silken sheet around her body. As she reached his side she absently teased a lock of his hair in her fingers. Joining his gaze, the frightening sight of hundreds of air and leviships lining the harbour drew her breath. They were loading troops and provisions.

"I thought I was doing the right thing by excluding the use of guymelefs from this "war"" Dryden said, in that deep cynical tone of his.

His wife glanced at him, her eyes filling with tears. She however, refused to cry. She had done far too much of that last night. Turning to her, Dryden half smiled, creasing the taught sun weathered flesh of his slender cheeks. His eyes were gentle and loving. Milerna placed both palms on his bare chest as his heavy robe was open and the cord dragged on the floor. He kissed her tenderly on her lips, his: warm and moist. "I'm coming back, he said playfully, squeezing her cheeks gently between his thumb and forefinger. She chuckled pulling herself from his tender grasp.

There was knock at the door. Dryden glanced up, his concerned gaze betraying his real emotions. Tying the robe securely about his bare form, he answered the heavy oak door to the tall blonde figure of Allen Schezar. Allen stood already prepared for war; an iron breastplate secured firmly around his torso, heavy leather gauntlets and gloves adorning his forearms, and plated shoulder guards were a formidable sight. He bowed gently and straightened up, his eyes widening in surprise to see Milerna wrapped up in a bedsheet in Dryden's quarters. His heart lurched suddenly, but he regained his composure.

"Your highness, your armour is ready." Allen said quietly, frowning levelly into the darker man's eyes.

Dryden nodded solemnly, before turning to glance at his wife. "Milerna, once you are dressed come to my privy chamber, I need to speak to you" She curtsied gently turning away from Allen's penetrating stare. She felt her heart being pulled in so many directions and yet all of them were away from her.

Once dressed in ceremonial attire; a long blue gown with white sleeves and collar, a veil and a plaid with the Asturian crest stiched in gold across it, Milerna sailed down the long, tall corridors of her palace. She was accompanied by an entourage of maids and Allen who had come to escort her. He glanced down at the kink in her brow.

"Your highness" He said, his soft low tones making her heart judder.

She glanced up at him sideways "What is it Allen?"

"Don't worry for Lord…don't worry for Dryden. I won't let him be killed." He looked ahead a frown battling on his face, cobalt blue eyes set on the end of the corridor. "I'll protect him with my life"

Milerna watched her feet. She didn't know what to say. "Thank you Allen"

He sighed, turning and dismissing the maids. They looked wide-eyed to their queen who nodded softly. A dozen maids quickly retraced their steps in the other direction, leaving the couple in the dull corridor.

Allen looked down at Milerna gently when they were alone. She felt the same old pang return in his company. With an audible sigh he stared down at his iron-shod feet. "You love him don't you?"

The Queen glanced up at the former knight. She felt a small tender smile unwillingly curve her lips upwards. "Yes, I've grown to love him deeply"

Allen's eyes darted up, but his face remained downcast. "Just like Marlene" He muttered. Closing his eyes in painful thought, he straightened up. "I'll bring him back alive" He said quietly, images of the Duke of Freid, haunting his thoughts.

Allen knocked briefly before entering the King's privy chamber. Dryden stood with his back to them, a long cape flowing down to his calves and his unruly wavy hair tied back in a tight braid. He cast his gaze over them; his quirky eyebrows working his face into a smile. He wore a glinting suit of armour, interrupted only by a tunic with the Asturian crest, like that of his wife's, stitched in gold thread. Milerna gulped but smiled gently at her husband. He didn't look right in that tin can, he was a lover not a fighter. He gestured to the small morning table against the large bay window. Breakfast had been laid out for three. Allen pulled Milerna's chair out for her, and waited until Dryden was seated before sitting himself.

As they began their breakfast silently, Milerna tried to pretend she was actually eating something. Dryden watched her solemnly. He didn't want to leave her, especially in her condition. Milerna watched him watch her. She had to tell him before he left, but she worried she had missed her chance. This child within her wasn't getting any smaller, and although she knew he would be delighted with the news, she knew that the timing was terrible. What if he never came back and she lost the child? The most horrid possibilities ran through her mind. She swallowed hard to pass the small piece of food down her gullet. Once they had eaten in silence, Allen excused himself and informed them that he would see that the preparations were ready for Dryden's departure.

Left alone with her husband, Milerna looked anywhere but his eyes. "I suppose I'd better tell you to be careful" She joked trying to lighten things, although she felt the tears rising in her eyes.

Dryden pulled her against him, her arms encompassing his tubular metal cased torso. How she longed for his warm, rough flesh against hands. He stroked her hair. "I love you Milerna, and I'm coming back to you."

She stared up tearfully into his eyes and saw her own sadness reflected. "I love you too Dryden" His smile broadened and he stroked her cheek.

Their lips met, softly caressing each other, till Milerna pushed herself forcefully against his. Dryden opened his mouth, allowing him to deepen the warm moist kiss. She felt his hands bunch the fabric of her dress, and she clung desperately to his neck. Regretfully, Dryden broke the embrace with sadness on his face.

"We have to go now Milerna" He said uncharacteristically quietly. She nodded sadly.

A large crowd of only humans throbbed around the entrance to the palace. A fleet of airships hovered in the harbour. The day was bright and warm, but Milerna noticed none of this. She felt as though she were in a dream as her sister joined her quietly.

"Milerna are you quite alright?"

Milerna didn't mean to ignore her, but she couldn't stop watching Dryden.

He waved cheerily to the crowd who adored him. The fact that their King was going to fight on the front lines was not lost on them. He turned to Milerna and kissed both her cheeks, cupping her face gently

"Take care of yourself, I'll be back soon" He whispered, kissing her briefly on the lips before being handed his sword and strapping it around his waist. With that Allen, Dryden and the Heavenly Knights descended the carpet towards the huge ships suspended in the air. The crowd was going wild with excitement, but Milerna wanted to die. All but fainting, she grasped her sister's arm for support as she watched the man she loved walk off to a world he cared nothing for, to a world where he was stranger; the world of war.