olympia phaetus knew change. from the first steps of her cubhood, to her first hunt, her first time outside of her home country, and to her first kiss. she had many firsts, and expected still that there would be others. what she didn't expect, however, was knowing what she was carrying at this moment as she took to the oasis under the covers of the night. most of lorien plains were gone or asleep, so it was easy to take off for the dunes. olympia had found herself growing accustomed to the plains and its members. she found friendship in its sovereigns, and even the friends of the two became a sort-of acquaintance to her. thus, she walked with some guilt; it weighed on her shoulders, as much as the growing babes weighed down in her belly, made it curved and firm. yet still, olympia didn't stop, not until she reached the oasis border and tipped her chin up to call for @Aeistrios. he needed to know, he needed to decide what their future would be as a high sovereign. or else...or else olympia would simply leave lorien plains and take her and her growing litter elsewhere so they would be safe.

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He hadn't expected to hear from @Olympia for a few more weeks at most - the two of them seeming to enjoy their time together more than they did apart. He found himself fond of her, majorly so, and what was first meant to be a troll to his enemies had shifted to a desire stronger than he anticipated.

Now, he wasn't really sure what to do with the fact she was still a Lorien lioness.

She was an enemy - and if any of his children spotted her, he wouldn't be able to justify saving her. So, maybe he needed to make her a non-enemy. But he doubted she would even want to join the Oasis; the lack of herbs a disadvantage to his pitch of the land. He continued to play on ideas of how as he neared closer to her summoning chuff, his usual grin sliding onto his face as she comes into view. "Looks like you ate well." Aeistrios notes, a rumbling tease leaving his lips as he closes the distance between them. An attempt to nudge his muzzle into her neck, before glancing back down to her slightly-curved stomach, wondering what prey she had feasted on and why she didn't save any for him. "Didn't bring any for me?" A pout this time.

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olympia imagined @Aeistrios would not have noticed her stomach. except, he did, and his response made her eyes bulge and her nostrils flare. she was fat? fat? not 'are you okay' or 'are you feeling well?,' but f a t? men were so stupid, olympia thought to herself. yet still, she shuffled closer, liking the touch of aeistrios all too much to take a swing at him. she attempted to nip him, a touch more than just gentle, just to get back at him for that comment. no one could ever say something so stupid to olympia phaetus and get away with it.

aeistrios you idiot! she said and clenched her teeth. though her tail was swishing and her shoulders were set. olympia was part-nervous and part-curious to how the rest would roll out, how her future would be now that she was expecting. i'm not fat, i'm pregnant! olympia was panting by the time she finished her response. whether or not it was from the pregnancy or the journey here or something else was unknown. only that olympia's ankles felt sore and she herself very tired. she also must remember to cover her scent while returning, so yes, a lot to do for her.

and, yeah, they're yours.

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Aeistrios you idiot!

Eyes widened as he saw her jaw clench, her tail swishing from behind her. Confusion set in then, and when her panting confession came, Aeistrios found himself dumbfounded. I'm not fat, i'm pregnant! The words echoed through his ears and suddenly his world was not so relaxing - but rather a load of stress dumped right on his plate, stinking of Lorien.

He blinked, and his jaw parted to open before a frown furrowed at his eyes. It was obvious he was confused, trying to process the how which he was very aware of... but only one time was enough? Or... "Olympia!" He breathes then, words thrown her way in a subtle shock. "Why would you pick now to have those cubs?!" Aeistrios fully believed it was the female who chose when to have kids - how many, and what genders. Renfri had tried to educate him but she had gotten too irritated too quick, and ended up laughing in his face before leaving.

So he thought he was right.

Aeistrios began to pace then - only to round closer to Olympia's frame while his snout attempted to caress gently against the sides of her stomach. Cubs, he had cubs in there growing - his children. More Saxe. The thought of them being born anywhere near Lorien had his blood surging with anger. He looks for her gaze then, an intense seriousness taking over and parting from whatever goofiness she might have ever seen there -

"Be my wife, Olympia."

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olympia had an entire monologue dedicated to the unexpected news. she had mental footnotes she could spill, and academic scriptures to recite just to hope that @Aeistrios wouldn't force her to do the unthinkable. and yet, the worst thing he did was suggest olympia had chosen to be pregnant. by spirits was this man a dumbass. maua bless her, but she was ready to bite aeistrios's balls off. maybe she could present it to violarum and olive and have them be the children's godparents.

i take back calling you an idiot, aeistrios, olympia said. you are a dumbass for thinking us women get to pick when we get pregnant, 'cause we fucking don't, and if we could then there wouldn't be so many little crotch goblins running around this country. her legs were weak but by the power of sheer will olympia held on. her stomach churned and she wondered if the babies heard her. a part of her felt guilt for calling them crotch goblins...so hopefully they wouldn't take it too badly.

the next part genuinely shocked her. if it had been a normal conversation, if they had not been on opposite ends of the playing field, olympia would have said yes without hesitation. she enjoyed her time with aeistrios, but...

only if you keep the cubs safe olympia said with a wet sniff. she allowed the man to touch her because it did feel nice and it did calm her nerves. yet still, olympia was sobbing a little and she didn't really know why. and you have to keep vio and olive from knowing. i consider them friends and i don't want any more animosity between you guys due to the pregnancy.

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It didn't take too long for him to rile the words out of his peach, and she scolded him with enough ire that Aeistrios found her attractive when she was so frustrated. He'd be damned if he pointed that out right now, though, given the seriousness of the situation. He'd rather avoid being hit by her if possible.

"It made the most sense." He grumbled back to her, a weak argument against her very-pointed facts, but Aeistrios was stubborn and enjoyed his line of thinking more. Regardless, his thinking and her thinking didn't erase the very obvious facts that soon, she'd be giving birth - and he'd be enraged if it was on the Plains land.

He'd kept Violarum's own daughter prisoner - what would he do in the name of revenge to Aeistrios' newborns?

Aeistrios was determined to not find out.

Apparently, such desires would come with a sacrifice. Keeping the cubs safe was a no-brainer and perhaps the very reason Aeistrios was still even breathing today. He had so many children, and the will to ensure they saw a proper legacy - the kids bore from Olympia would be no different. But not being able to be smug to Violarum and Olive, having to contain the victory of wooing a lioness from their pride... it was a let down.

"Neither of those things will be a problem."

The words came sharp, strong - urging @Olympia to see and feel the sheer determination behind them both. If hiding the cubs from the Plains meant Olympia would be with him, as a wife, and their children raised among the other Saxe... he'd oblige. "Violarum may be your friend, but understand he and I are anything but. Our children... could be prime targets for his revenge." And, if anything Aeistrios had learned, was not to keep many secrets. "I held his daughter prisoner when she trespassed into the Plains under my rule. I will not see him hold my own the same, nor will I let him do that to you." Because what if Violarum was pissed she engaged with the enemy? Aeistrios wanted to keep her safe all the same.

He attempted to press his side into her, and aimed to draw her closer to him, sobbing and all. "So... does this mean you can't make the cubs all plum and handsome like me?" A sly smile, hoping to make her laugh and lighten her mood.

He found that he didn't like her tears.

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olympia made a show of rolling her eyes as much as she can at her big dumbass's words. still, it was kind of charming, in a boyish way. a little too naive for a grown ass man of course, but cute at the same time. she had calmed down by now, but a part of her was still antsy and wanted nothing more but to be in a safe place. for her and for the life in her belly. she pressed close to aeistrios and took in his warmth, allowing his words to filter in.

you could have just let the kid go olympia said. kids are stupid and need guidance... she was not surprised to hear about aeistrios keeping prisoners, but she was upset to know it had been a child. pride politics could be cruel and unfair and that was exactly why olympia used to stay away from it. if worse comes to worse, i'll lie to violarum and tell him i don't know who the father is she said with a heavy sigh. let's just hope none of the kids look like your carbon copy. and don't take that as an insult, @Aeistrios saxe, 'cause any kids born from us will be perfect. she had fantasized a lot about the kids, in those brief periods of peace that came between stress and shock. olympia wanted kids that take on colors beyond just plum and peach, maybe one that was entirely covered in darkness and another that had a blush similar to a ripe strawberry. a fruity four litter, if you will.

when can i move in with you? she asked, raising a brow.

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He opted for pretending as if he didn't hear the alternative solution @Olympia offered, instead, focused on her words about Violarum and how she could just tell him she didn't know who the father was. This caused a frown on his features. "I'm not ashamed of them." He retorts, a flash of irritation in his eyes at the thought anyone might think they need to hide him as the father. Sure, he was Amaryllis' most wanted; but he was also a oddly good father, and he'd claim those kids all the same.

"You move in now. Go ask Violarum for release, give him whatever reason you want to... but if he doesn't let you go then I will come challenge for you endlessly." He informs her then, keeping their proximity close as he thinks over how Violarum could take advantage in this situation. Taking in a deep breath, he finds his muzzle extending back to rub against her neck. "Olympia Saxe. It sounds delectable." A lower rumble then, a smirk on his lips.

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she didn't miss the fact that @Aeistrios ignored her, but she was not surprised. talking was easy, but getting these two brutes together without one of them losing an eye would be hard. olympia didn't want to know the extent of their animosity towards one another and she didn't want to lose both. i'm not mad that you are the dad she told him, hoping it would pacify aeistrios somewhat, that olympia was glad it was him and not some nameless man. plus, aeistrios was a king; their kids would be princes and princesses, and they would be loved. gosh, this made her a bit teary-eyed.

i know how to spin a good tale and i don't think vio would notice im pregnant olympia said. the man was smart but also dumb like a boy in his own way. that was, of course, just olympia's opinion. she also observed some other pregnant women running around lately in the plains. she didn't know most of them, but hopefully that could keep the pride a bit busy. the only problem was to how to spin it to olive, if she had to face her. or rather, the guilt of betraying their friendship for an enemy pride.

olympia saxe huh? it does sound very nice olympia said, eager to turn the subject away. you better clear out your den before i arrive, 'cause i have a lot to bring. she leaned against his bigger frame and inhaled the scent of the andals and that of aeistrios's personal smell. for the first time, olympia decided she might like the andals if it meant having a family here. i'm gonna leave soon to find vio and ask him for my release she said and paused, before detaching herself from aeistrios. send me away with a good luck kiss? it was made as a joke, but now olympia was looking forward to it.

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Hearing her explain she wasn't mad he was the father did help some, but the unease was still there. He was skeptical, which was fair given his reputation. However, he was also hopeful - that Olympia's affections to him were genuine. Only because his to her were.

"Alright, I am trusting you." He would allow her this lead - on how to get herself out of the Plains and to the Oasis. Aeistrios would have much rather taken control and simply gone to fight Violarum for her, but Olympia held his children and he wanted their union to kick off with a sweet start rather than a sour. He knew she would appreciate the trust... right?

He doesn't hesitate to take up the words of affection, closing the distance and nuzzling along her cheek. A sloppy kiss planted along the soft ends of her fur. "I want to watch you leave, my wife." He purrs to her lowly, fangs attempting to nip along her tender skin at her neck, pulling away to gauge her expressions. Yes, he'd hate to send her off... but he could find some positive in it all.

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