Tanyrin rejoiced.  From one end of the splintered kingdom to the other, the people welcomed the marriage of their young king, Severyn Lothlain, to Miss Stefanie Eldering, daughter of a long and distinguished bloodline.  It had been two years since Lothlain had taken the throne, well past time for him to be setting up his nursery

Follow up:

        In spite of the many problems plaguing the kingdom, its people were optimistic.  Already, King Severyn had brought new, welcome changes to the land.  The crushing oppression of the Old Church and its heavy tithes were gone.  There were new freedoms and fewer taxes.  Why should their king not have some joy in his life, as well?  Miss Eldering was beautiful, young, accomplished and healthy.  Her brother, Stefn, Earl of Shia, was among the king's small group of bosom companions.  Surely it was a marriage blessed by Loth!

        Few, however, knew the truth of it; as the exultant crowd of well-wishers gathered outside Lothmont's great Cathedral, cheering and waving banners with the Lothlain crest, not all of those within rejoiced.

        "Are you going to tell her?"

        Severyn met the Earl of Shia's cool green gaze and forced himself not to look away.  They both knew what he meant. 

        For the moment, the two men were private, alone in one of the small antechambers off the dressing room, each resplendent in his wedding finery.  There was little time left before the new archbishop would summon them for final prayers outside the Sanctuary below.

        "She deserves to know her marriage will be a sham and her husband one in name only."  Merciless, young Eldering persisted.  His voice was cold, but there was a gleam of sympathy in his eyes.

        "It will not be a sham," replied Severyn.  "I know my duty.  There has been a Lothlain on the Dragon Throne since the Naran War.  The line will not stop with me."

        "That's not what I meant, Your Majesty, and well you know it."

        Damn. The boy had become fearless.  Severyn regarded him, the slight figure proud and straight, his gaze unwavering.  It was Eldering's sister, Stefanie, of whom they spoke.   Of course he was protective.

        "She will be queen," said Severyn.  "Many women of her station must often be content with less."

        The sound of merriment and excitement drifted up from the courtyard below, audible even through the closed windows and Cathedral's massive stone walls.

        "If you talk to her," Stefn urged, "explain to her how things are with you, she will understand..."

        "Will she?"  Severyn kept his voice low.  The rest of their friends were in the dressing room next door.  "Do you know her so well - you who lived hidden away in Shia while she grew to womanhood here in the city?"

        "She knows how I am," Stefn replied doggedly, "and accepts it.  Trust her, Severyn.  She is a good person."

        "She is a darling," retorted Severyn, "and deserves far better than me, but it cannot be helped!  I will do my best for her.  I will strive to give her a son.  I promise to treat her kindly and with the utmost respect."

        "And what of love?" demanded Stefn.  "She is young yet, but the time will come when she realizes what is missing and longs for it.  And you -- what will you do when your own heart turns to another man?"

        Anger tightened Severyn's chest.  He clenched his hands -- hands covered in white kid gloves embroidered with the crimson rose of fertility.  His laugh was short and bitter.  "You can ask me that?"

        Stefn caught his breath.  For an instant, the younger man's face reflected pain - and sympathy. 

        Severyn cursed and turned away.  "I can't see the future," he said finally.  Taking a deep breath, he turned back. "But I know one thing.  The only man whose arms I would seek will never return my regard with anything but friendship.  I have accepted that.   I enjoy the company of your sister and wish only the best for her.  I would ask of her only a son of unquestioned paternity and peace in my house.  Will that be enough for you?"

        Stefn was silent a moment, his head bowed. Then he nodded.  He would have said something more, but the door opened.  The man they both loved poked in his head.

        "There you are!  It's time to go down!"  Michael Arranz smiled at them, but the deepest warmth in his gaze was for his lover and his cethe.  Stefn smiled radiantly back and hurried to join him.  Severyn watched Michael sling an arm around Stefn's shoulders, leaning close to say something in his ear.  Then he turned back, silver eyes alight.

        "Come on, Sev!  It's too late for cold feet now!"

        Through the open door, Severyn saw his other friends, Auron Challory, Bradigan Forrest, Erich Dore, and Jerry Iarhlaith.  They were in high spirits, resplendent in their silks and jewels.  Their jokes and congratulations echoed around him as he joined them, smiling and making all the right responses to their teasing and good wishes.  Then, because there was no other choice, he fell into step with them and started down the wide stairway to meet his bride.