His face seemed to loose its colour as she spoke, and he wondered just who had been responsible for all these tales. Even if he had been with another since they had been married, it was not as if he could have caused any children to be born in such a short time. “Lothiriel, I have never lied to you, why should I start now? I have brought children home with me, children that have no mother nor father, so in a way they are my children for I am king and therefore responsible for their well being.” He paused them and sat back slightly from her, taking both of her hands lightly in his own, they looked so small and so pale against his.
“I shall never want another, never think of another, never have thought of any other since we have been wed. I love you Lothiriel, with all that I am and all that I will ever be.” His voice was soft and thoughtful, as his eyes lifted from their linked hands and looked into her face. “How could I ever replace you?” He asked, a slight frown creeping over his forehead, “you are the keeper of my heart Lothiriel and I believe you always have been, and I know you always shall be.”
With that he dropped her hands and lifted her from the bed and onto his lap, holding her gently and cradling her in his arms, “you do look sickly, and I shall make sure that we take off for a few days, but first I do need to tend to the children, for they have been through things that most adults can not imagine, and would not wish too.” He would tell her more as time passed, but she seemed so frail now, that he did not wish to implant horror stories within her mind as far as a five year old fending for four others younger than herself.