A/N—this has some gender bending in it, one of the main characters turns into a girl once a year and is able to be impregnated. As this happens I will refer to them as she/he and so on, until its either just her and then goes back to him, because they carry the baby in their natural male body. I hope it is not very confusing and I hope you like and will let me know what you think.

It came as a surprise to Declan Avenel when his wife of ten years and queen of Avondale told him that she was dying and had arranged for him to marry another.

“I do not agree to this arrangement Valencia, I married you out of love till death do us part and not before”, he argued although he knew it was in vein.  Valencia stroked the side of his stumbled cheek with the back of her soft hand. “Death will part us soon, my love. It is in this knowledge that I do as I have done”. She went to rise and smiled as Declan gave her his hand in assistance.

“You will be king and you will have need of a consort. I will live long enough to see you happily married and with an heir that I could never give”, she smiled and bent to give him a soft kiss. “Come you must be made presentable before you meet Bryn Blackwood”, she said and together they walked for the bathing chambers.

Bryn Blackwood was a young man from the Willow Hollows, a people who had a unique ability to change gender for one week every year after their twenty-first birthday.

Consequently, the wedding was that very day as well, Declan had no idea of what to expect from his new consort, he had yet too even meet him/her, and for the first time in years, he felt bitterly nervous.

“You look even more handsome now then I remember”, Valencia said as her eyes ran over the black and dark blue clothing that was Declan’s wedding attire. “There is just one thing that needs adjusting”, she moved pale slender hands to dishevel the thick dark curls that the attendant had smooth back. “There...perfect”, she said smiling and Declan gave her a smile in return, though it was more forced and almost sad.

The wedding being held in the palace gardens, there were many guest, most from the Kingdom or Willow Hollow.  Taking his position beneath a silver arch covered in green ivory and white roses, Declan stood tall and regal, despite the nervous churning of his stomach.

Declan turned his gaze to the figure of Bryn who was dressed in a genderless flowing silken robe of white and blue, who took slow soft steps forward obviously anxious as well.

Once Bryn reached, the arched alter, Declan took the small soft hand that appeared from beneath the long sleeves and with his other, and he reached and pulled back the veil to reveal the beautiful delicate face of a young woman.

Declan took in the light dusting of freckles across a button like nose, the full soft pink lips, and long black lashes framed large lavender eyes. Short black hair that escaped the veil stuck out in angles that gave Bryn a look of belonging in an enchanted short of fairytale.

“Am I pleasing to you as I appear now”, Bryn ask in a voice that was bell like in its soft sweetness. Declan nodded contentedly.

 “Yes…Very much so”, he assured but he saw that Bryn still looked slightly uncertain. “I’ll not be like this in a week”, she/he stated and Declan nodded. “I know this as well; do not trouble yourself so needlessly, you are now and will forever be my consort and you have no need of non-sensible worries”, he smiled and pulled Bryn against his broad chest and kissed her/him.

It was only proper for the King and his consort to have a wedding feast in the dining hall, followed by a dance in the ballroom. Declan found that Bryn enjoyed dancing, speaking and laughing with the guest; he discovered that already she/he had charmed the court; and he discovered that over all Bryn was just generally loving, kind, and warm.

Once they had danced a final waltz, Declan had taken Bryn’s small hand and lead her down the hall to their chamber. They were intercepted by Valencia who smiling kindly took Bryn’s wrist gently.

“Come dear, I wish to speak with you”, she said and looked at Declan with eyes full of love and happiness, “You go make sure everything is as it should be”, she scolded teasingly and Declan laughed. “I’ll wish to speak with you once you have finished with my consort”.

Valencia nodded and pulled on the others wrist, “come dearest we have much to discuss”.  She led Bryn to a large magnificent chamber room. Bryn took her time looking about the room with its scarlet tapestry and carpets, the scarlet and ivory bedding and all the beautiful mahogany furniture.

“This is all yours now”, Valencia said as she pulled a garment from a beautifully carved chest. “You will look so very lovely in this”, she said as she held out a crimson sleeping gown. “I don’t think you will be wearing it much tonight of course”.

Bryn blushed furiously at the words and Valencia laughed, “Are you nervous?”, she ask kindly and Bryn nodded slowly. “A little I suppose”, she admitted. “What if I do not please him? I know he has no love for me, but I must admit that I may be falling in love with him already and I want nothing more then please him in all that I do”.

Valencia smiled as she placed the garment on the bed and moved to undo the buttons on the robe Bryn wore. “I knew I choose well with you”, she said. “You have a heart that Declan can and will cherish. I know you fear that he will be unable to love you in return, but I can tell you now that he is already charmed by you”.

Bryn turned a hopeful look at her, “Do you really think so, your highness”.

“Oh I know so, because no one knows Declan as well as I…and please dear do not call me your highness, I am not that anymore, that is a title that belongs to you now”.

Bryn’s gaze was stubborn, “Then what do I call you, I can’t help but feel as if I’m taking everything from you”, she cried.

Valencia shook her head, golden curls escaping from her otherwise neat bun. “I am dying Bryn. You have taken nothing from me that I haven’t freely given…, this includes my beloveds’ heart, and I would not trust anyone with Declan’s heart as I trust you”.

“I’ll leave you get dressed now. May your marriage be long and may your children prosper”, Valencia said and gave Bryn’s hand a squeeze and a sisterly kiss on her cheek before leaving the room.

Declan was standing outside the doors, arms crossed and a smile on his lips, “You wish to tell me that I have your blessing …yes?”

“No, because you’ve had my blessing since I found Bryn in that village, your children will be beautiful”, she said and Declan sighed. “I still wish that it was with you… I wanted and I still want a child with you”, he hugged her tightly. “I would gladly trade places with you if possible”.

Valencia pushed him away and narrowed her green eyes, “I would not”, she stated. “Bryn is simply lovely, you will learn to love him, I can see that you are already charmed by him as he/she is now, and you will be once she is him again”, she sighed. “Bryn is beautiful and everything I could ever hope for you to find. I wouldn’t have chosen him if I hadn’t thought you would not love him”.

Declan nodded slowly and pulled Valencia into his arms once again, “I trust your judgment entirely my love, it is just hard for me to let you go…no matter how enchanted I may be by Bryn’s presence”. He kissed her once more and then kissed the top of her blonde curls. “As you wish, I will return to my consort, we have a marriage to consummate after all”, he offered a grin and Valencia laughed. “I am sure you will not be disappointed”, she promised and still laughing she walked back to her own chambers.

Walking into the royal chambers, Declan found Bryn sitting on her/his knees, dark head bowed as she traced the pattern of the covered with a finger. She looked up when the door closed and a sweet smile curved the bow like mouth.

“You look stunning”, Declan said as he took in the sheer scarlet fabric that left little to no imagination. “Not that I expected anything less, you would be stunning in a potato sack I’m sure”, he mumbled nervously then laughed. “Excuse my rambling please”.

Bryn smiled and stood up, “I am glad you think so, I know that Lady Valencia’s beauty is beyond comprehension,  but I am glad that you find me pleasing as well”, she said with a meek smile.

Declan ran his eyes over Bryn’s frame, it was small and fragile, yet strong in the same sense, and beautifully curved in its female form. “You have a beauty that is beyond comprehension as well, my sweet.” He took a hand, pulled her/him to his chest, and bent sealing their lips.

Bryn’s lips were soft and pliant under Declan’s own and he cupped a large hand behind her head and pulled her closer. Small hands where busily working at the buttons of his shirt and Declan moved back to grasp them.

“You are sure this what you want?”, he ask and Bryn nodded eagerly. “I’ve saved myself for such an occasion and I am eager to know the intimacy of our union”, she said and Declan laughed. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard it put quiet that way before, but I am just as eager to show you how pleasurable our union can and will be”.

Their lovemaking had been unbelievable; it had been quick and fervent, then slow and passionate. Declan held Bryn against his chest as he fell asleep. It was morning when he awakened by a surprised squeak that was not nearly as bell like in tone as the night before. He opened his eyes and saw that Bryn’s dark head was under the cover and her/his body was shaking.

“What is wrong sweet Bryn”, he asks and Bryn’s face appeared from beneath the coverers, pale white, still pretty, but obviously male. “It’s happened so quickly, I’d just turned twenty-one two days before. It has not been a week. Why have I changed back so quickly?”

He was breathing quickly and his hands shaking as they touched his flat belly. “I’m sure there is an explanation”, Declan said softly as he reached to push away the black hair; that had been rather short for a woman, but was rather long for a male; from the same lavender eyes that he had looked into the night before.

Tears filled the lavender gaze and Bryn turned away from the touch leaving the bed and quickly grabbed at a robe hanging from the door. “I have to talk to Lady Valencia, and the healers”, he said leaving a bemused Declan staring after him.

A/n---how was it, I hope it was easy to understand and read, and that you all enjoyed what was written. I’ll write some more later, I hope you like it and will let me know what you think, as always thanks for reading, You all Rock!